
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

Chap.: Copyright No. 

Shelf..j©_xM^ 

F^ff 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



fr 



MONTEZUMA" 



AND 



OTHER POEMS 



BY 

C. T. BATEMAN 



TOLEDO, OHIO, 

W. W. BATEMAN, Publisher, 
1897. 




1W0 COF' 



COPYRIGHT 1897 

BY 

C. T. BATEMAN. 



^ 



CONTENTS. 



Montezuma, 

John and I, - 

Etherial Forms, 

Somnus, 

Ask and Embla, 

Sometime, 

Memorial Day, 

Wit Better than Strength, 

The Fire King, 

Growing Older, 

The Still, Small Voice, 

John's Letter, - 

Heaven's Welcome, 

The Death of Balder, 

Relics, 

Gambrinus, 

The Voice of the Wind, 

The Brooklet, 

The Angel's Song,- - 

The Search for God, 

A Norseman's Death, 



PAGE. 

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79 

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82 

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89 

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93 

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100 

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106 

- 114 
117 

- 121 
123 

- 124 
125 

- 127 



nONTEZUMA. 



PART 



T'was night within the Astec's sunny land. 

Far o'er the crystal waves that circle round 

And ever lave her well built island home, 

The stuccoed walls of Tenochtitlan gleamed 

In moonbeams pale aud shalow loving light. 

Oil many a lofty tow'r and holy shrine 

All brightly burned ihe sacred fire and shot 

Athwart the scene ics red and bakdui glar(\ 

The busy crowds h;v.l h.'ft the spacious streets; 

The Tiatelolco with its merchant throng-^ 

Was still; deserted by its devotees 

In solemn silence high o'er-toping all, 

The war god's mighty teocallis stood. 

The thousand airy skiffs that skimmed the tide, 

So light they scarcely touched the yielding flood, 

With streamers gaily decked and flashing wide 

With ev'ry gorgeous dj^e the sunshine paints, 

Now gently rocking lay in quiet coves. 

Tluj day had been an Astec festal day. 

When firet the sunlight's dawning rays illumined 

The snowy Popocatapetl's brow 

Proclaiming to the darksome vale below 

The near approach of day, began the rites 

That ushered in the day of sacrifice. 



Tes-cat-li-po-ca, god of air, of life, 

The soul and great creator of the world, 

Had waited long his customed feast of blood. 

For one short year the beauteous captive named 

For sacrifice in regal splendor lived. 

In Tenochtilan's honors high he stood 

To Montezuma only second deemed. 

The royal pages in his service bowed ; 

Sweet clouds of incense round him ever curled; 

The flower's brightest bloom his garlands tinged; 

The fairest maidens found in all the land 

Companions for the short lived god were giv'n. 

When nobles spread the banquet table rich 

The place of honor was his festal boon, 

And when he deigned to show his face abroad 

Or breathed melodious strains on Toltec flute, 

The multitude in humble posture bent 

Adored the human likeness of their god. 

The sacrificial morn again had dawned. 

The end of all his splendors brief had come. 

Stripped of his gaudy robes, he bade adieu 

To all the partners of his revelries. 

Far o'er the shining wave where heav'n-ward mounts 

The pyramidal teocallis walls, 

In royal barges borne, the Aztec king, 

The lords and nobles of his vassal train, 

The fated victim of the hungry god, 

Close followed by the city's vast concourse 

Wide sweeping o'er the lake with festal fleets, 

Had landed on Tezcuco's hither shore 



And winding high around the temple's sides 

Had gained Tezcaltipoca's fatal shrine. 

The doomed had cast his blooming chaplets down 

And sadly gazed on earth, his parting gaze. 

The priests with matted locks and garments red 

Had shed the blood of sacrifice that day, 

Had held the bleeding, throbbing heart on high 

To catch the rising sun's first glowing beams ; 

The altar still was red with human gore ; 

The itzli blade still showed the crimson stain. 

And though the robes of night had darkened all 

And sleep had hushed the city's busy hum. 

Yet, many a heart with shiv'ring fear confessed 

The horrors of the sacrificial stone. 

Though he who died the victims sacred d ath 

And shed his life-blood on religion's ^h-ine 

Would rest in mansions of the setting sun 

And bask in everlasting joy and bliss 

With all the good and brave of ev'ry clime, 

Most few were those that dared to pluck the crown. 

How many longed and prayed for milder creeds, 

For some religion that would bless niankind, 

Wipe out the stains of superstition dark 

And fill the longings of th' undying soul. 

Were never known to Tenochtitlan's lord. 

VVilhin the lovely Iz ta pal a-pan 

While shining on Tezcuco's farther shore 

Whore princely palaces in splendor rose, 

Where Montezuma's wondrous gardens spread 

In wide luxuriance far and filled the air 



"With perfume sweet, the Astec lord was found. 

The rites of bumau sacrifice performed 

The royal barges hither turned their prows 

Aud Montezuma with his honored train 

His council held in Iztapalpan. 

Then Montezuma reigned in pompous pride 

O'er mountains great, o'er climes of wide extent, 

O'er all the regions vast that grandly stretched 

From wide Atlantic's ever swelling main 

To vaster deeps, the blue Pacific claims. 

Within his palace Montezuma sat. 

Around him stood the pillars of his throne, 

The favored nobles of his rich domain, 

His brother Cuit-la-hu-a, brave and true, 

Ca-cama lord of fair Tezcuco's vale, 

Tla-co-pan's allied king, in rank the third, 

And other vassals, each who ruled his tribe 

And boasted of his hundred thousand spears. 

The eacred fire upon a silver shrine 

Cast o'er the throng its blazing brilliancy. 

With incense sweet, the burning censers fiilled 

The gaudy room, while through the curtained halls 

Came music's soft cntrant-ing melody. 

The music ceased, then Montezuma spake. 

"My cherished friends we have performed this day 

A pious Avork. Tezcatlipoca smiles 

Once more on Tenochtitlan's island home; 

Our knees in worship bent before his shrine, 

The honors we have shown his sacred name. 

Will clear of dark portents our doubtful sky; 



Disheartening omens shall distract no more 

And fill our souls with dark forboding-s sad; 

The rising sun that beamed so gloriously 

And threw delightsome rays of golden light 

Upon our teocallis towers gazed 

All cloudless, on the victim's heart held high, 

A happy sign for us that all is well. 

O'er lovely Anahuac's extended climes 

Inviting all its tribes to cast away 

Their fears and sorrows and corroding cares 

To morrow's sun shall throw its radiance far. 

To-morrow's dawning light shall fall athwart 

A nation basking in in the fav'ring smiles 

Of him who rules with mighty hand the world. 

To-morrow let our barges gaily float 

And bear us to Tezcuco's hither shore, 

Bear us where Xaltocan's bright waters flow 

And lave the margins fair of blooming isles 

With ever murm'ring sounds of limpid waves. 

There spreads in wide extent a royal park 

With wild wood's verdant bow'rs and arbors cool, 

With blushing flowers and fragrance breathing trees 

Where game abundant haunts its shining streams, 

Hovers beneath its copses tangled growth, 

Or flutters mid the overhanging trees. 

Mid rural scenes the hunter's bow we'll bend. 

We'll tread the thickets dense where sleeps the fawn, 

We'll rouse the jaguar from his secret lair, 

Or chase the puma to his rocky den. 

To joy and mirth and game, four days we'll give, 



Thea cherished Tenochtitlan's weal shall be 
Our future care. A nation's joy or grief 
The monarch's joy or grief should also be; 
As all the living body suffers pain 
When but the smallest member feels a pang 
So with the nation's body politic. 
When supplications of the poor and weak 
Unheeded pass, when fierce oppression builds 
His gorgeous palaces with toil unpaid, 
And peculation proudly gay exults 
Iq ill-got wealth, when Crime unblusoing 
Walks scathless in the light, and Innocence 
Flies weeping from the land, then ruin dread 
And dire distruction falls on high and low, 
Crushes alike the poor and harmless slave, 
The haughty noble rich in vassal throngs 
And broad demesnes, the eraporer himself 
Who stands pre-eminent, the nation's head. 
Thus counselors and friends aid me to rule 
Eememb'ring that the people's greatest good 
Should ever be our greatest happiness. 
The labor of the day is finished now, 
To-morrow's plans are sketched, and now to rest. 
May gentle slumber like a downy robe 
Enfold your hearts in sweet untroubled sleep." 



PART II. 

O'er Xaltocan's fair waters smooth and calm 

The setting sun's last radiance gleamed afar, 

Shedding a mellow lustre o'er the vale, 

PaiDting sweet scenes of beauty to each eye, 

And breathing into ev'ry form of life 

Boundless delight and joyful ecstacy. 

The buzz of wings fell gently on the ear 

As flocks of birds went sailing o'er the lake 

Seeking the forest wilds, for liight's repose. 

The mocking bird poured forth its gushing song 

Upon the balmy air; the vulture perched 

Upon some lofty giant of the wood 

Whose summit dead, threw out its naked limbs 

And leafless boughs in solemn majesty 

High over all the woodland growth around, 

Looked down upon the beauteous world below, 

And watched with silent gaze the noisy throngs 

Of water fowl that haunt the reedy streams. 

Like graceful birds upon the water's gleam, 

The Astec's light pirogues, went glancing swift 

O'er Xaltocan's unruffled deeps, or shot 

Like feathry shafts, along its glowing brim. 

From hamlets fair, the happy children came 

And on the shining shore, with mirthful glee. 

With sportive games, and thoughtless song and dance 



Inhaled the odors of the fragrant air. 

Young men and maidens sought for garden bow'rs 

And wove in cool retreat, the flowry wreath 

Or gave the hour to love and happiness. 

One pair pre-eminent for beauty walked 

Upon the sandy beach of Xaltocan ; 

One for her graceful mien and beauteous form, 

The other for his stature grand and proud 

His noble face and darkly flashing eyes. 

The fair Copalpa's fame had spread abroad 

And many a flattered beauty envied much 

The bright and blooming maid of Xaltocan. 

Her father was a famous Tultec seer 

Whose wild secluded home embow'rd in trees 

Hard by the royal park, now brightly threw 

Its white reflection o'er the glassy flood. 

Copalpa with sincere devotion loved 

Her comrade whom she called her warrior brave, 

Her lover true, her dear Tezcalican. 

They wandered near the sandy shore and gazed 

Delighted on the sun illumined waves; 

Eemarked the light canoes swift gliding on 

As if to scape their own bright silver trails ; 

Traced out an eagle's course, that circled high 

Above the wat'ry gleam; with eager eyes 

Beheld the gorgeous glories of the sky 

All glowing with the sunset's golden rays. 

Then, turning from the beaten strand away 

Sat down in shady bow'r where incense came 

From flpw'r parterres in odorous breezes by, 



And talked of love, and sketched their futuro p'aiis 

When hymeneal rites in union sweet 

Should bind in sacred bonds their kindred hearts. 

Thus swiftly passed the precious moments by, 

Yet, ere the purple tints of dying day 

Had fled before the dusky skies that lead 

The statelj^ march of Night, the sombre queen 

Who rules the world when sunlight westward flies, 

They saw with deep surprise, as if to seek 

Their chosen bow'r, a royal group advance. 

Gay was the hunter throng; with nodding jtlunics 

Their helmets waved; their cloaks were bright and ri. b 

With skillful work of plumage so en wrought 

They vied in beauty with the brilliant birds 

That haunt the Astec's ever blooming clime: 

Bright was the j^ellow dazzling gold that blazed 

Profusely on their ornamented robes; 

Untold the richness of the sparkling gems 

That circled lordly necks or kingly brows. 

Their shining shields, with strange devices wrought 

Eevealed the noble's rank and high estate. 

Wearied with toils and labors of the chase 

Upon a jewelled litter born along 

The emperor, great Montezuma came. 

Copalpa and her lover bowing down 

With reverence before his majesty 

Craved blessings on their honored master's head. 

Then spake Cacama brave and youthful lord 

Of fair Tezcuco: "Else! fair maiden, rise! 

Bend not to earth; a happy fortune shines 



10 



Athwart thy flow'ry pathway's future course. 
Thy glorious beauty's fame, hath spread afar 
And Tenochtitlan's stately maids, though fair 
As crimson roses breathing incense sweet, 
Or rainbow tinted humming birds, beheld 
Amid the glossy leaved banana's bloom, 
For such a peerless form as thine have longed, 
And envied thee thy beauty's matchless cast. 
Behold our honored Montezuma's face! 
ilis ( ar hath often heard thy praises ring 
Eu kindling admiration in his heart; 
And now he comes to bless thee with his love, 
And from your father's cottage gently bear 
You where Chapoltepec exalted stands 
With tow'rs crowned and lofty battlements. 
With noble groves of ancient cypress trees. 
With gardens rich in myriad fruits and flow'rs, 
Where splendid palaces look proudly down 
Upon luxuriant vales and gleaming lakes, 
And there in that delightful mountain home 
Install you queen of love's elysian realm." 
"No, no, I cannot go ! " Copalpa cried, 
"Should Montezuma make me lawful queen, 
And love me more than all the fairy forms 
Who throng, in grandeur proud, his harems rich. 
My heart is not my own, my love is fixed. 
'Tis changeless as yon adamantine cliffs 
That gird this ever verdant valley round. 
To one of lowly birth, of name unknown, 
Yet for his noble soul and talents rare 



11 

Well worthy all the transient honors, wealth, 

Or fame, or titles high, can mortals give ; 

To one who loves me as he loves his life, 

Without whose love, my life would bo a blank, 

A dark and gloomy blank without a ray 

Of joyful light to cheer its sombre path, 

I gave my word and pledged undying faith." 

*'Ah, foolish girl," Cacama answ'ring said, 

"Wouldst thou refuse this rare, this priceless boon, 

A boon the noblest damsels found would grasp 

With eager joy and bless the silver star 

In heav'n that rules her earthly destiny ? " 

Copalpa wept and begged her freedom's rights, 

Obscurity, her father's peaceful home, 

The presence of her loved Tezcalican. 

T'was all in vain ; at Montezuma's word 

A most unwilling captive she was lead 

By stranger hands from home and fi-iends away, 

Tezcalican in dumb amazement stood 

And almost thought t'was but a baseless dream, 

Some vision wild, by troubled fancy wov'n. 

His stupor fled and darkly flashed his eyes 

With anger's rising spell. With hopes and fears 

And anxious dread, he sought the Astec king 

And audience craved, with Tenochtitlan's lord. 

Great Montezuma heard his sujtpliant prayer, 

Heard the sad pleading made by love bereaved 

But from his haughty presence spurned the youtli, 

Threat'ning, if e'er he dared petition more, 

The horrors of the sacrificial stone. 



12 

Like leaden weights, upon his heartstrings hung 

Beep sorrow came, and dark resentment burned 

Within tlie deep recesses of his soul. 

Along the shores of limpid Xaltocan 

He walked. With soft and soothing melody 

The wavelets rippled on the sandy beach; 

The full round moon, with mild and gentle beam 

Roye calmly o'er the lofiy eastern hills; 

The twinkling stars, from out the darksome depths 

Came one by one and powdered all the sky, 

But naught of pleasing sounds or fairy scenes 

Could sooth the lover's anguish stricken soul. 

He stopped at length and wildly gazed around. 

He dropped upon his bended knees, one hand 

Upon his heart, the right upraised to heav'n. 

Then called upon the star that ruled his fate ; 

*'0, glorious beam of light! sweet star of life ! 

Thou fadeless flame, that leads my earthly course 

Who from thy inaccessible abode 

Nightly looks down upon the sunless earth 

And sees thy servant as he slowly floats 

In joy or grief adown life's ebbing wave 

O, hear my prayers, and grant me aid divine. 

Before thy shining throne adoringly 

I bow and make my changeless vows to save 

From Montezuma's grasp, my dear betrothed 

Or failing in the perilous attempt 

Avenge our wrongs upon his guilty head." 



13 



PART III. 



Six puns had traced their blazing coarses high 
Along the Astec's bright and cloudless dome 
Since great Tezcatlipoca's festal day. 
From Xaltocan returned the royal train 
Was safe in Tenochtitlan's glit'ring walls. 
Within his palace Montezuma held 
His daily court. The outer halls were thronged 
With noble chieftains clad in garments rich, 
Kesplendent decked with bright and precious genas 
And feath'ry plumes in golden helmets clasped, 
Waiting to bow before the greatest prince 
Tho western continent had ever seen. 
From cities far and near, from distant tribes 
Whose names had scarcely reached the Aztec's ear, 
From mountain climes, and tropic regions dressed 
In never failing verdure, they had come. 
Embassadors from distant Cozumel, 
Bright ocean isle, from Guatemala's rea^nis, 
Tabasco near th' Atlantic's curling waves 
Embow'red in palm trees never failing green, 
From Cempoalla midst the fertile plains 
Where dwell the Totonacs but late subdued 
By Montezuma's arms, Xalapa's tow'rs 
And lofty fanes mid oaken groves upreared 
High overlooking rich enameled plains 
In torrid beauty stretching far below, 



14 



From famed Cholula's city sacred held 

By all the tribes of Anahuac's fair clime 

Where mystic Quetzalcoatl, god of peace, 

Had dwelt in ancient time and taught mankind 

Religion's holy rites, from western tribes 

Who ever hear the vast Pacific's waves 

E ill fiercely on the trembling shore, were there 

To greet their emperor and tidings bring 

From ev'ry province in his broad domain. 

First came a suppliant before the throne ; 

With age his form was bent; his step was weak ; 

Around his chin the curling gray-beard crept 

And o'er his shoulders fell the few white locks 

That passing years had failed to bear away. 

Hi-i eye^, un dimmed by age, revealed the fires 

And glowing fervor of a mighty soul, 

Or flashed their arrow piercing glances deep 

As if they saw man's secret thoughts and read 

The dark arcana of the human heart. 

lie was the Toltec seer of Xaltocan, 

But Montezuma knew him not nor dreamed 

Of wrongs himself had heaped upon his head, 

Nor read the anguished lines upon his brow. 

He bade the suppliant speak who thus began : 

"O king! Thou mighty lord of all the tribes 

Who dwell in Anahuac's extended climes, 

I pray thee bear with me, though I may sj^eak 

With unbecoming boldness in thy ear 

And hear me patiently, though painful truths 

This aged tongue of mine may utter here. 



15 

It is a time for bitter thoughts to stir 

The inmost depths of ev'ry beating heart, 

A time for joyous laughing eyes to weep, 

A time to meditate upon the past, 

And wisdom learn from dear experience, 

To gaze upon the future's opening veil. 

And read its strange forebodings shadowed forth 

In light reflected back, from ages past. 

I now am old ; have counted well my years. 

Have seen of life its dark mysterious ways, 

Have striven hard to learn the laws of God 

And from his throne, celestial waters quaff*ed, 

Have sought to feed on wisdom's heav'nly food, 

And though with human imperfections clothed, 

And naught but feeble mortal pow'rs boast 

To ward oif fell destruction from our land 

I fain would warnings give and counsels bring. 

Twice have I seen the rolling years bring round 

The rites that mark the cycle's dreaded close ; 

Twice have I seen the dark unlucky day 

When winter's snow among the mountain dells 

Lay thick and deep and dimly shone the sun 

With slanting rays, when anxious fear came down 

And men in pieces broke their household gods 

Distrustful of their waning pow'r to save, 

When holy fires faint and fainter grew. 

Until each sacred ember slowly died 

Upon its dreary, cold, unworshipped shrine, 

When the torn world, disordered, waiting stood 

Prepared to meet the genii of fate 



16 

Whose coming wraps the world in chaos dread. 

Twice have I seen the last dark day depart 

And midst the deep'ning shades of evening seen 

The priestly throng ascend yon mountain's brow, 

And as the Pleiades the zenith gained 

Beheld upon the victim's wounded breast 

The new fire blaze aloft and heard the shouts 

Of boundless joy from gazing thousands rise 

From hill and roof and tow'r and temple's dome. 

Twice have I seen, from sacred beacons lit. 

The red'ning glare of countless torches tinge 

The midnight air, o'er all Tezeuco's vale 

And seen the festive days of jubilee 

That ushered in the new born cycle's course. 

Like some grand picture painted bright and clear 

Thy famous uncle's reign before me lies. 

His great achievements I remember well, 

The gods regaled with human hecatombs, 

The terraced temples built, the works of art 

That beautify the Aztec's chosen seat, 

And with prophetic eye regarded well 

The bearing of events. 1 too have seen, 

Thy gradsire's stately palaces arise; 

Have heard his legion's warlike tramp and seen 

His gorgeous banners shine in triumph proud 

And wisdom from his mighty actions learned. 

The past I see in clear and faultless light ; 

I read the future in the shadows dim 

Coming events shed on the light of now. 

We stand upon a dread and fearful brink; 



17 

Abysses dark are yawning neath our feet ; 
But one false step we topple down in ruin ; 
No earthly power then from from utter woe 
Can save this beauteous land, the gods will not. 
'Tis not too late perchance to turn the course 
Events are taking now and safety gain. 
Hast thou, O king I not read aright the signs 
That fill thy people's hearts with fear and dread ? 
Dost thou remember how Tezcuco swelled 
When all the sky was calm, and causeless rolled 
It's wildly rushing billows o'er its shores 
O'erwhelming happy homes, in furious wrath ? 
The quenchless fire that wrapped in curling flames 
The loftiest tow'r upon the war god's fane ? 
Three blazing comets swung in heaven high 
Eclipsing stars, with pale and gloomy light 
Threat'ning our land, with more than mortal swords? 
Strange voices heard in evenings calmest sky ? 
Ominous sounds from neath the solid earth, 
And how, far eastward rose that wondrous light 
Like some vast pyramid of glowing fire 
Whose sparkling apex reached the zenith high 
Thick powdered with bright, scintillating stars 
And changed the dark plumed Night to lurid Day ? 
E'en now, methinks, I hear the multitude 
Wlusper of mystic Quetzalcoatl's day; 
His promise to return and claim his own ; 
The speedy end of Montezuma's reign, 
When the new empire of the god of peace 
Shall make the land a glorious paradise. 



18 

Let not thy servant anger thee, O king ! 

But let me show thee Danger's fearful face. 

Thy own right hand hath brought destruction near; 

Thou hast forgotten all humility 

And chilled the love thy people gave thee once ; 

Extravagance hath burdened all the land 

With grevious tithes; unwilling maidens torn 

From dear paternal homes and bonds of love 

Within thy harem walls, have brides become. 

Unlike the happy Toltec race of old 

Whose altars never ran with human blood 

Nor smoked with aught, save incense wreathing clouds. 

Thou hast polluted all the land with blood 

Poured out before thy cruel senseless gods. 

These signs in heaven above and earth beneath 

Foreshadow sword and deadly pestilence ; 

They are the omens dire of changes great ; 

Then pale and grisly Fear shall walk abroad 

And ev'ry heart shall fail, before his gaze ; 

The weak shall safety seek in mountain dens ; 

The strong shall fall and none shall give him aid 

When dark and dread the days of judgment come. 

They are the voices of the murdered dead, 

The spirits of the hapless victims slain 

Upon the horrid stone of sacrifice 

That fill the air with sounds mysterious. 

They cry for vengeance on this guilty land, 

For never shall they find a haven of rest 

Until their airy manes are appeased 

By some undaunted hero who shall sweep 



19 

This dark religion boldly from the earth. 

May thine the blessed hand become to wash 

And cleanse these sad and guilty stains away ; 

liestore to earth the pure and gentle rites 

That Quetzalcoatl taught in days of yore, 

The worship of that great eternal god 

The sole Creator and omnicient one. 

One God alone there is, th' Omnipotent 

Who needs no ministers to do his work, 

Who reigns among the glowing stars of night, 

Whose arm upholds the sun and guides the moon, 

Whose hand from mingled chaos wrought the earth ; 

The valleys heard the thunder of his voice 

And rock built mountains pierced the vaulted sky 

And hot volcanoes smoked; the sea and land 

Felt his enlivening breath and swarmed with life 

And in the radiance ot his gracious eye 

Th' unbounded universe his praises sang. 

O king ! I pray thee turn thy heart to him 

Alone and trust no more thy cruel gods 

Whose pow'r cannot avail in times of woe. 

Without reform thy empire soon shall fall 

And death and ruin riot o'er the land. 

The burdens of thy people lighter made 

Would soon recall their love, dissensions heal 

And firmer seat thee on the Aztec throne. 

Let justice ever be thy shining shield. 

Let meekness form thy royal diadem, 

And temp'rance fold thy limbs in during mail, 

Then, armed with arrows tipped with piercing tri^th. 



20 

Unharmed thou may'st withstand each threatning foe 

And triumph over all the ills of earth, 

And when thy radiant sun of life shall set, 

And thou shalt join with choral symphonies 

The shining throngs that circle earth and sky 

Attending on the glorious orb of day, 

Or, midst the blissful gardens of the west 

In such beautitude as mortal tongue 

Can never hope to tell, shalt gain repose, 

Then, shalt thou leave behind a deathless name 

Enduring as yon bold Chapoltepec 

Whose rocks behe-ld the day's primeval dawn, 

A name revered and loved, by grateful lands 

Made happy by thy long auspicious reign. 

One favor yet, for me and mine, I fain 

Would ask O king ! I am the Toltec seer 

Of Xaltocan. From home delights and love. 

From unambitious joys and humble state 

Torn by thy pow'r away, my daughter weeps 

A pining captive in thy harem halls. 

O ! give her liberty again I pray ; 

Restore her to my old and anguished heart 

And with each morning light and evening shade 

For thee my prayers shall rise before the throne 

Of him who rules supreme, the universe." 

The old man ceased and bowed his hoary head. 

Then dark with wrath grew Montezuma's brow 

And rising from his golden throne, bade thrust 

The Toltec eeor beyond the city's bounds 

And order gave forbidding his return. 



21 

Next from the throng a noble lord came forth; 

Over his richly tinted cloak he spread 

The nequen, hiding all armorial signs, 

And by a royal page led in, advanced 

Within the audience hall. He bov^^ed himself 

Before great Montezuma's throne august. 

Ilis right hand touched the earth thea grazed his brow 

III humble salutation ere he spoke. 

" My noble lord what news hast thou for me ? " 

The king began ; " perchance thou bringest news 

Of great import. If right I mark thee now 

Thou comest from afar and tidings bear 

From fair Tabasco's warm and fertile shore." 

*' I do, O worthy king ! " the lord replied. 

" Perhaps thine ear hath heard wild rumors come 

Borne on the floating breath of wond'ring throngs, 

Distinctless murmurs of the multitude, 

Weaving, it seemed, from airy shadows, forms. 

Fantastic shapes, described as vast pirogues 

Swift gliding o'er the boundless billow's foam 

Wide spreading bright and snowy wings to catch 

Each freshly springing breeze of ocean birth, 

And filled with children of the orient sun 

Whose fair complexion seemed, to link their race 

With mystic Quetzalcoatl's sacred blood. 

These rumors now, however strange, are true. 

Fair Cozumel, upon her island shores 

Hath heard the white man's tread, in terror gazed 

Upon the winged canoes, and saw the flames 

Leap red and bright from thunder belching throats 



2^ 

With which they spoke, or watched them plow the 

waves 
With more than giant strength and toss aside 
In sporting play, the white and foamy surf. 
All weak and powerless their gods became 
Before the white man's face : from sacred shrines 
And lofty temple heights, with ruthless hands 
They hurled the Indian gods in ruin down 
And fed the flames with many a worshiped form. 
They raised a cross, the symbol of their creed. 
And made it god alone in Cozumel. 
From thence they sought Tabasco's flow'ry plains. 
Tabascan warriors met, 'th invading band 
Upon the shallow flood, their river rolls ; 
They struggled with their fierce and hardy foes 
Upon the river's soft and slipp'ry banks ; 
Behind their palisades, they sternly fought 
But all in vain, the white men gained the day. 
Our forces fled, but fled to fight again. 
On Ceutla's plain, with forty thousand men 
Prepared to meet our dreadful foes we stood 
Nor waited long. Ere noon, the third day's sun 
Had gained, we saw them winding through the plain, 
Beheld the gleaming of their metal spears 
Amidst the fields of growing maize and heard 
Upon the graveled roads, the heavy roll 
Of strange machines of war. Then face to face 
As mortal foeman meet in deadly strife 
On Ceutla's bloody plain we met and fought. 
Like hail upon the mountain's rocky slope 



23 

When somber storm-clouds roll along the sky 

Our arrows fell upon their serried ranks. 

Unharmed they moved amidst the beating show'r 

And armed with lightning's flames and thunder's shock 

They piled the trampled plain with Indian dead. 

The arrow's hiss, the crash of whizzing balls, 

The dying groans and shouts of struggling men 

Filled all the air ; but hark, a tumult dire, 

A rushing sound, like tempests wild with rage 

Is heard upon our flank. With battle cries 

They came, the white man's chosen cavaliers 

High mounted on their fierce and mighty beasts 

Unlike all ever seen by Aztec eyes ; 

Down ! down ! upon our terror stricken ranks 

They ride and right and left, with flaming swords 

Cut through the frightened throngs. Dissevered limbs 

And gastly heads, and mangled corses roll 

Upon the gory field. The riders rush 

Trampling and crushing through tho swaying mass. 

At length our thinned and bleeding forces break 

And fly in wild dismay. Dark Terror spreads 

Above the panic stricken fugitives 

His quaking, trembling wings and fills the air 

With horrid sounds and forms of frightful mein. 

The day is lost and every bosom sinks 

In grief, and blank despair gloats o'er the scene. 

Alas ! how many weeping widows mourn 

O'er bloody Ceutla's graves, or parents sigh 

Over the fate of unreturning sons. 

Tabasco's lords in mild submission bowed 



24 

And forced allegiance gave to him who rules 

The white man's home beyond the ocean's tide. 

Fallen from high estates and earthward flung 

Tabasco's gods were trampled under feet 

And, as at Cozumel, the cross was raised 

Mid shouts of joy and far resounding chants 

Upon the sacred throne, where once reposed 

In awful state, the ebon god of air. 

From fair Tabasco northward o'er the sea 

The strangers passed to seek thy famous land. 

Many a weary league o'er burning plains, 

O'er rivers swollen wide with mountain floods, 

Through forests dark and over rocky steeps, 

I've passed to meet thee in thy island home 

And warning give, that thou may'st guard thyself 

And people well, from all intruding foes." 

"I thank thee noble friend ! " the king replied, 

"For all thy pains I will reward thee well. 

I'll ponder on thy words, though strange they seem. 

Within my palace stay till rest and food 

Eecruit thy wasted strength. Here worthy page 

Attend the wishes of this noble lord. '* 



25 



PART IV. 



'' Two weeks iu prison passed," Copalpa sighed, 
" Two weeks a captive here and yet no news 
From home. No lather's voice to soothe my woe. 
No lover's smile to cheer my heavy heart. 
Though here luxurious feasts are spread, 
And grand magnificence on every side 
Surround, and liv'ried servants ever stand 
To do what'er I wish, and beauteous throngs 
Of matrons fair and damsels young and gay 
Fill all these palace halls with mirthful joy. 
And, though 1 wait to be a royal bride, 
And share with other queens the monarch's smile. 
Still from my burning eyes the tears will fall ; 
Though laughter comes betimes it cannot hide 
The deep drawn sigh or drive away the gloom 
That hovers like a cloud upon my brow. 
Why do 1 sit and gaze so wistfully 
Upon yon shining lake or sloping lawn 
Or watch each stranger's face with eager looks 
As if I thought my father's dear old face 
Would come to greet once more my longing eyes 
Or I might catch again a loving glance 
From him whom I have loved since infancy ? " 
Thus plained Copalpa midst the garden bowers 
Of fair Chapoltepec, The gloom of night 
Came softly mingling with the deepening shades 



26 

Of verdant trees and ever blooming shrubs 

And still she sat and watched the gleaming stars 

Come silently from out the darksome depths 

Of cloudless skies or sang with plaintive voice 

Some favorite melody of girlhood's days. 

A gentle voice, a whisper soft, disturbed 

The maiden's quietude. She turned and heard 

Her name. It was Tezcalican, who spoke. 

" Hist, hist ! my sweet Copalpa, not a word. 

In ev'ry hidden walk and shad'wy nook 

Around on ev'ry side grim dangers lurk. 

These cool retreats and guarded palace walls 

I've watched for days to gain a glimpse of you 

And try by some bold, daring deed to save 

My fair Copalpa from a harem's life." 

" God bless thee dearest one," Copalpa breathed. 

" O let me fly with thee ! We'll freedom gain 

And seek a refuge wild mid mountain crags 

Where love may fold us in his happy arms, 

Or die in striving for this glorious boon." 

'' We'll try," the answer ; then with cautious steps, 

They passed through clust'ring bowers of scented vines, 

Beneath the darkly waving foliage 

Of lofty cypress trees, among the founts 

That sparkle midst the sylvan solitudes, 

Climbed o'er surrounding walls and gained at length 

The water's placid gleam. His light canoe 

Lay waiting on the silent sandy shore. 

One moment more and like the graceful swan 

It skims along the calm unruffled wave. 



27 



" haste ! " a whispering spirit seemed to say 

From out the fragrant breezes passing by. 

" O haste ! thy precious freight is deathless love 

More precious far than all the yellow gold 

Or sparkling gems, great Montezuma owns ; 

Not all the countless wealth from Tasco drawn 

Or wrought from Zacotallan's rocky hills 

Could bring such joy as thy affection gives. 

Tezcaltipoca grant thee heavenly aid." 

Such words of cheer Tezcalican received 

As coming from the Genii that ruled 

His destiny. It nerved to double strength 

His arm and onward shot the tiny boat. 

The stars of heaven threw their feeble rays 

Upon the darksome lake, but in their hearts 

The star of hope, a glorious light diffused. 

Sometimes the rush of lonely prows was heard 

And dancing lights from many a distant skiff 

Came glim'ring faintly o'er the polished wave. 

In the dim distance with its holy fires 

Bright blazing on its thousand lofty fanes 

The eye beheld in dusky outlines stand 

The mighty city of the Aztec's pride. 

On, on, they swiftly urge the light canoe 

As each one to the wonted paddle bends. 

Far, far, behind with faint and fainter glow 

The holy fires reflect their baleful light. 

Like fireflies dancing o'er some meadow damp 

When genial summer lights their mimic lamps 

Far rearward float the thousand lessning brands 



28 

That rowers kindle on each barge's prow. 

Before, the kindly darkness and the wave, 

Behind, the closing waters and the light 

That tells where busy multitudes collect. 

Before, 'tis freedom, love and life itself. 

Behind, 'tis slavery, grief and horrid death. 

On, on, Tezcuco's lake is nearly crossed. 

From o'er the dark outline of distant hills 

The rising moon it's soft effulgence pours 

Upon the night enveloped plain belOw, 

And thickens danger round the fugitives. 

Tezcalican beholds with trembling fear 

The lighting of the waters calm expanse 

And strives with more than wonted energy 

The shclt'ring shore to gain ere swift pursuit 

Should mock the hope, the veiling darkness raised, 

Alas, Tezcalican, that flood of light 

Hath brought misfortune on thy hapless head, 

Hath brought the itzli blade upon thy soul. 

Yain, vain, your hasty flight, ye cooing doves ; 

From watchful eyre high, the cruel hawk 

Hath downward stooped ; the angry, whizzing rush 

Of his remorseless wings is heard afar ; 

No flight however swift can stay their fate. 

In hot pursuit the Aztec lord had sent 

His minions forth. Wide sweeping o'er the lake 

Seeking the fugitives, with rapid oars 

The royal barges plowed the darkling Aoods 

Nor found but rayless depths and sleeping shores. 

Perchance, some slow, belated fisherman, 



29 

His finny prey secured, now homeward bound, 

Or floating gently on tne lazy tide 

Festooned with wreaths, and richly trimmed with flags 

Some pleasure boat, with merry hearted crew, 

Till Luna's silv'ry torch with shim'ring ray 

Kevealed the lover's course. Not long the chase. 

Both strength and hope had failed their youthful hearts 

And blank despair had chilled the love of life. 

They saw their armed pursuers near and heard 

Their threat'ning voices o'er Tezcuco ring. 

Few were the hurried words of love they spake, 

One last embrace. The dark, deep waters closed 

Unpityingly above the self doomed pair. 

To seek repose beneath the crystal tide, 

To lose in death all sorrow, woe and pain, 

To sleep the soul away to spirit worlds 

And join perchance the bright and joyous throngs 

That dwell upon the sun's resplendent orb, 

To their benighted minds seemed better far 

Than bear the crushing hand of cruel fate. 

Thus seeking death they sank beneath the lake 

But found not there his cold and pallid form. 

Ere life had fled, the divers drew them forth 

And bore them back to Montezuma's court. 

Condemned to die upon the war-god's shrine 

Tezcalican in guarded prison lay 

Mourning his sad and gloomy destiny. 

" Alas, alas I " cried he, " Is there no good 

No light, no joy, in all this world for me ? 

Why was I born ? Did being only come 



30 

To bring me anguish, woe, and hateful death ? 

Is there a God who built the universe, 

Who rules supreme, all things that are, have been 

Or yet shall be ? Perhaps he may exist ; 

Our wise men tell us of his mighty power ; 

His goodness and perfection infinite ; 

Then why should he endow me thus with life, 

Life fitted for the joys this earth contains, 

Give to me reason, sense and longing hopes 

Ending in bitter painful mockery ? 

My life, a sad and hopeless failure seems. 

In childhood's helpless hour misfortune came 

And hand in hand we walked, companions then, 

Companions yet. Joy often comes to earth. 

I've seen his garlands wreathed on many brows. 

Have seen him oft with happy comrades dance, 

Yet, when I turned on him my wistful gaze 

'Twas only chilling frowns he deigned for me. 

To some are riches, honor, health, and power 

While others poor, dispised, and weak toil on 

Through life and sleep in unremembered graves. 

Ah! who can pierce the veil of mystery 

And tell from whence and wherefore evil comes? 

Where is the land that gave the monster birth ? 

Who is the sire of such a progeny ? 

Is earth the only region by him cursed 

Or doth his cruel spirit wide pervade 

Creation's vast extent? Is life alone 

Saddened by his relentless, tireless hand 

Or doth his fell dominion pass beyond 



31 



And anguish bring on disembodied souls? 

If death shall land us in a better world 

Perhaps the evils of this changeful life 

With all its burdened woes of hapless grief, 

Of crushed and broken hopes, of painful toil, 

Of dark oprobrium and shameful crime. 

Of sad existence fraught with pain and death, 

Will all be righted by a master hand 

And our rebellious thoughts complain no more." 



PART V. 



Beneath the haughty Spaniard's daring foot. 

In grandeur, beauty and magnificence 

The land of flowers lay. Wide o'er the realms 

Of ample Anahuac's dominion spread 

The news of white men wafted o'er the floods 

From far Tlapallan's bright mysterious shore 

And landed on the Aztec's sacred soil. 

Oft where the lofty Ceiba throws its shade 

The wond'riug people gather round to talk 

Of the bright tules, children of the sun, 

Their fair complexions, robes of texture strange, 

Their fearful arms, the stately winged pirogues 

That brought them safely o'er the ocean deeps. 

And, most of all, their swift and mighty steeds 



32 

That bore their fearless riders o'er the plain, 

Or dashed resistless through opposing foes. 

As bats from dark and sunless caves come forth 

When dusky twilight dims the summer day, 

Traditions hoary with the mist of years, 

Half buried in the gloom of ancient time 

Came forth and mingling with the gath'ring throngs 

Gave form and hue to every strange report 

And heightened all the mj^steries, the past 

Or present brought before the Indian mind. 

Untroubled in his fairy mountain home 

With strong and rocky ramparts girt around 

Deeming himself secure from human foes 

Great Montezuma held supreme control. 

Perhaps the fame of Quetzalcoatl's reign, 

The old tradition of his sure return 

To claim his kingdom o'er the western world, 

ThoHe strange reports that from the seashore came 

Climbing and spreading o'er the high plateaus 

Until they reached fair Tonocbtitlan's isle 

Of white men riding on the eastern waves 

In floating houses built with snowy wings, 

Their doings where they deigned the solid land. 

The signs in heaven above and earth beneath 

Filling all people's hearts with awful dread, 

At times gave some disquiet to his mind, 

But fawning courtiers banished ev'ry thought 

Of boding ill, and dangers darkning round, 

And ever spread before his royal eyes 

Fair pictures, bright with every rosy hue 



33 

Of purest happiness and future joy. 

O'er great men's eyes, Fate cast a blinding vail 

And kings and princes stumbled in the dark. 

Some heard the mutters of the gath'ring storm 

And read mysterious portents in the skies 

But found no pow'r to move the hearts of kings 

Or means to save from dark impending doom 

And helpless ruin, their cherished, native land. 

The dream of peace and calm security 

Soon broke and fled from Montezuma's eyes, 

And fear like ghastly ghoul from grave-yard haunt 

Revealed in dreadful form before him stood. 

Teulille an Aztec lord, a messenger 

From eastern plains where dwell the Totonacs 

Brought word that made the monarch pale with dread 

And tremble on his frail and tot'ring throne. 

Before his nation's chosen lord he came 

And thus th' astounded emperor addressed : 

*' O noble sire ! Unwillingly I bring 

Thee tidings boding ill, I fear, our land. 

Upon the eastern shores of thy broad realm 

Where first the orient sun beams kindle up 

The light of day upon the Aztec soil, 

Where Cempoalla's late sabjected tribes 

The maize and glossy leaved banana raise 

And, clothe the verdant fields with indigo. 

White men from lands unknown beyond the sea 

Have boldly dared to set presumptuous feet 

And now demand a pathway through thy land 

And with thy majesty an interview 



34 



Here in fair Tenochtitlan's rock built halls. 

In numbers they are weak, in knowledge strong. 

In boldness and self-confidence they seem 

A host of mighty pow'r ; they come, alas, 

Not transient visitors, for when they reached 

Our shelt'ring shores and gained the solid earth, 

As if intending no return, they burned 

Their floating houses and prepared to dwell 

Among the simple minded Totonacs. 

Their chief is Cortez whom we call Malinche ; 

A man of God like form and haughty brow, 

Of daring soul and firm unbending will. 

Another chief is Alvarado famed 

For sunny locks and handsome form and face 

Wherefore we call him bright Tonatiuh. 

Olmedo is their priest and counselor 

Who bears the cross, the symbol of their God, 

And leads the worship of these wondrous men, 

Consoles the dying with his cheering words 

Or checks with calm rebuke the sinful hand. 

An Aztec maiden, who had been a slave 

On far Campeachy's shore, Marina named. 

Yet often called the beautiful Malinche 

Attends the white faced chief, where'er he goes 

As his companion and interpreter. 

They say, ambassadors to thee, they come 

From some great king beyond the briny sea. 

In form and feature and in human wants 

They seem but men, but whether born of earth 

Or tules nurtured in the sunlight's home 



35 

High o'er the eastern deeps, I cannot tell. 

They are the men who fought at Ceutla's plain 

And made the fields grow red with Indian blood 

And sacred shrines destroyed at Cozumel. 

Not bows and clubs, like ours they deign to wield 

But armed they seem to be with sulph'rous flames 

And all the dread artillery of heaven. 

Hast thou not seen, from out the rolling storm 

That darkens all the azure atmosphere 

The blazing lightnings leap with bursting crash 

And shiver to its base an aged pine 

On Popocatapetl's rugged steeps ? 

So thunder, smoke, and crash, and overturn. 

Their missiles, when they wake their sleeping fires. 

Four-footed beasts have they of mighty pow'r 

Unlike all ever seen within this land. 

As large and strong as buffalos that throng 

The northern plains. Upon their haughty backs 

These white men mount and swifter than the wind 

Are born along the trembling, shaking earth. 

Canoes have they of form and size so strange 

They seen* like giant pelicans with wings 

Of snowy plumage spread to catch the breeze. 

And when the freshening gale comes rushing by 

They mount the rolling waves and onward move 

Majestic o'er the ever swelling seas. 

Here noble father ! read this manuscript. 

Observe its pictures well. They're true as life. 

'Twill give thee knowledge of the stranger hosts 

That seek admission to thy royal throne." 



36 



With trembling hands the Indian emperor 

deceived the manuscript. With troubled brow 

He darkly gazed upon its pictured page. 

Within that mystic book he seemed to read 

The cruel fate of all the Aztec race, 

And saw with something like prophetic eye 

The shadow of his own sad destiny. 

O'er the bright sunlight of his soul there came 

The darkness of some terrible eclipse. 

He felt his empire slipping from his grasp ; 

His royal gemmed penache, the diadem 

To him bequeathed from noble ancestors, 

He saw to ashes crumble on his brow. 

He shivered neath misfortune's heavy hand 

And longed to gain a refuge in the grave. 

The trusted gods, his fathers long had served. 

To whom his life-long adorations giv'n 

Might build some hope of favor in the hour 

Of anguish, gods, for whom, a nation's tears 

Had not been spared, for whom the painful toil 

Of millions scarce sufficed their greedy shrines, 

For whom a myriad temples reared on high 

Became vast slaughter pens for human flesh, 

Forsook him in the trying hour of need. 

Boused from his musings sad, at length he called 

Brave Cuit-la-hu-a, brother true and tried 

And bold Cacama, strongest of allies 

That deigned to prop the Aztec's tot'ring throne 

And thus addressed his worthy counselors : 

"O brothers ! dark and evil days have come 



37 

And Hope like a startled bird now spreads her wing 

As if to bid our land a long farewell. 

Tulille's strange speech, within thy ears still sounds, 

Like the first echoes of th' advancing storm, 

Or as the hollow smothered groans that come 

Ere earthquake's shock o'erturns the rock ribbed hills 

And buries lakes within the yawning earth. 

It is a time that wraps each thinking soul 

In dread bewilderment ; a doleful hour 

That sadness brings to ev'ry loyal heart. 

Wise counsel now from you I sorely need. 

I pray you speak : Perchance some way we'll find 

To rid ourselves of these strange visitors. 

Were they but earth born men of mortal mould, 

Like men we soon should meet them face to face 

And all undaunted hurl th' invader back. 

But if they come as children of the sun 

To claim the land in Quetzalcoatl's right 

To re-establish his dominion here 

As in the legendary days of old, 

Eesistance would but surer vengeance bring. 

To hear thy friendly counsel now I wait." 

Then bowing, Cuitla-hu-a thus began : 

"My king ! my brother ! fain would I propose 

Some plan to take this burden from thy soul 

I see how trouble pales thy radiant brow, 

And earthward drags thy noble, gen'rous heart. 

Should tules come, from glorious sun-realms down 

How happy should 1 be to welcome give 

And bow myself a humble suppliant 



38 

And crave their blessings on my mortal brow. . 

O king ! let not thy heart be heavy more. 

Let not traditions old nor doubtful signs 

Disturb thy peace. These strangers are but men. 

The gods are just, and children of the sun 

Have naught but love beneficent for men. 

Yon golden orb of day, what tongue can tell 

Th' uncounted blessings it bestows on man. 

It gives us light and life and joy and hope ; 

It gives us beauteous skies and blooming earth. 

The grass that softly clothes yon smiling plain, 

The flow'rs that breathe sweet incense on the air, 

The silken corn, that waves its slender leaves 

In ev'ry breeze that floats our lakes among, 

The plenteous fruits, that bless our cheri.Nhed land, 

The forest giants on our mountain slopes. 

The gentle show'r, the sky refreshing storm, 

The shining fish that leap in silv'ry waves. 

The glorious tinted birds that gladness bring 

To ev'ry blooming grove, and all the forms 

Of happy life that cheer our landscape fair 

Are but the rich and beauteous gifts, the sun, 

The king of day, our Father, gives to us. 

Tell me not beings ever came from thence 

Defiled with earth-born passions ; beings fierce 

To drench the sun-kissed earth with human blood ; 

Beings whose souls are fired with quenchless zeal 

Against the very teocalli reared 

In honor of th' eternal god of heaven. 

Their shameful deeds, wherever they have been, 



39 



Their natures common to humanity 

Give proof, conclusive proof, that they are men. 

Superior to us, perhaps they seem, 

As we to tribes who roam the northern plains 

And rudely live on spoils of war and chase, 

But still how few their numbers when compared 

With all the thousands ready at thy call 

To march where'er thy eagle standard floats. 

Then let us rise and drive them from our shores 

Or bury them beneath a wooden show'r 

Of life devouring shafts. Perchance we'll drag 

Their chief to die the victims bloody death 

Upon yon lofty Teocallis stone 

Before Mexilti's stern and pit'less face 

Fit expiation for his sacrilege." 

He ceased and then Cacama thus began : 

"Great king ! thy brother's counsel seems to me 

Too warlike in its tone to serve our need ; 

But who and what these wondrous strangers are 

I fain would know before advising war. 

If they're of Quetzalcoatl's godlike race 

'Tis madness to oppose their hither march ; 

If as embassadors they visit us 

Sent by some noble king beyond the sea 

'Twould show a meanly weak, suspicious hand 

To thus oppose their mission to our shores ; 

Let open hearted friendship welcome give 

And if they prove unworthy of our love, 

If they betray our sacred confidence 

With right upon our side and heaven's help 



40 

Bemorselessly we'll crush the stranger hosts, 

As anacondas crush in death's embrace 

The antlered stag, or ocelotl fierce, 

And thus we'll prove, that strength but stronger grows 

When fighting neath the banner of the right." 

He ceased and Montezuma sought the shrine 

Where fierce j»nd black Mexilti's image stood. 

With sacrifice and off"ring8 rich and rare 

He bowed himself and aid divine implored, 

But dumb the god, and dumb his crimson priests ; 

Then taking counsel of his growing fear^ 

Adopted neither Cuit-la-hu-a's plan 

Of bold and open war, nor peaceful means 

Urged by Tezcuco's brave and gen'rous lord. 

From out the treasures of his hoarded wealth, 

To show his pow'r and grand magnificence 

He chose bright diadems and coronets 

Dazzling the eye with emeralds and pearls 

And crystals of the purple amythyst, 

Bright helms and hollow shields and heavy chains 

And wheel-like zodiacs of purest gold. 

Plume-woven garments, rich with all the tints 

That clad a thousand brilliant forest birds, 

Unrivaled by the bloom of scented fields 

Or green chinampas on the waters blue. 

And then addressed Teulille the tried and true ; 

"Here noble chieftain ! see these treasures rich ; 

I trust them in thy care. Go! choose a band 

Of tamanes and bear these precious gifts , 

Unto the teules chief, the great Malinche. 



41 



Tell him that Montezuma is his friend. 

Give him our royal welcome to our shores ; 

Bid him receive the gifts as tokens giv'n 

To bind the chain of friendship firm and strong; 

Hia daily needs from out the nation's store 

Shall be supplied and give him this command : 

'Dwell thou upon the borders of our realm 

Until thy sovereign bids thee back return 

But come not nearer to my mountain home. 

No monarch of the noble Aztec race 

E'er gave to strangers such a dangerous boon 

As leave to visit Tenochtitlan's isle.' 

Go forth my brave Teulille ; thou knowest well 

I fain would keep the great Malinche afar ; 

I leave the rest with thee, and may the gods 

From sungilt heavens smile propitiously." 



PART VI, 



Week after week of golden summer days 

Eolled by and Autumn's painted robes were seen 

Eedning the hillside, purpling valleys bright, 

And scatt'ring fruits where Spring had planted flower 

'Twas one of those delicious sunny days 

When all the world was bright and beautiful. 

The Aztec emperor from out the tow'rs 



42 

That crowned the heights of fair Chapoltepec 

Gazed wistfully upon the shining wave 

That swept proteetingly its silver floods 

Eound Tenochtitlan's walls and sadly mused 

O'er the enchanting scene, his childhood's home, 

The pride of youthful days, the grand estate 

He long had ruled in happy quietude. 

He trembled lest the lovely scene should fade 

And darkness covers all the joys of life. 

The very air seemed dark and ominous ; 

Nor sun, nor moon, nor constellations bright, 

Nor winds, nor rain, nor thunder's jarring sound, 

Nor earthquake's shock, nor nature's deepest calm, 

Could give a cheery hopeful atmosphere. 

It was the great Malinche, the white man's chief. 

Whose interposing shadow hid the light 

That long had beamed upon the Indian heart. 

Eegarding neither gifts, nor friendly words 

And careless of commands imperial, 

Malinche had spread his banners to the breeze 

And in Tlascala's rugged, mountain land 

Had met the dusky warriors of the rocks 

In bloody fray. Before his sturdy blows 

The heron fell, its snowy plumage soiled ; 

The golden eagle, emblem of the tribes 

Tlascala nurtured in her rocky deeps 

Drooped his resplendent wings and haughty crest 

And yielded to the mighty conqueror 

Submissively his dearest, proudest boon, 

The ancient independence of his race. 



43 

Cholula too, religion's sacred home, 

The holiest city of the western world 

Where pilgrim devotees unnumbered throng 

To gaze upon its lofty pyramids 

And off'rings bear to Quetzalcoatl's shrine 

Had fallen neath the stranger's bloody hand. 

In vain four hundred towers flashed afar 

The light of never dying, sacred fires ; 

In vain the cherished shrines that overlooked 

The mighty city, with its crowded streets ; 

Id vain the valor of its dauntless sons ; 

The white man's sword had made it desolate. 

Its smoky heaps and blackened walls appear 

Where happy multitudes were wont to crowd 

The broad arenas of its market squares. 

Its gods in that dread hour of deep distress 

Forgot their ancient promises to save. 

From out Cholula's broken pyramid 

Came forth no raging flood to overwhelm 

Its pit'less foes or quench its wasting flames. 

With silv'ry lustre, midst the fruitful fields 

Far southward stretched lake Chalco's limpid waves. 

The later flow'rs still lingered on its shores ; 

The purple orchards cast the autumn gleam 

Wide o'er its quiet deeps; the fading leaves 

Down flut'ring on the gentle breezes fell 

And floated on its liquid, glassy sheen. 

Here forest groves crept to the water's edge 

And there the cultivated fields drew up 

The freshning moisture of the friendly lake ; 



44 

Here dwellings nestled neath the clust'ring trees, 

And there the well built villages were seen 

Like jewels on a rich embroidered robe. 

Fairest and brightest on the Chalcan shores 

Stood Ajotzinco with its walls of stone. 

Towards its far distant gleaming, anxious eyes 

From Tenochtitlan's lofty towers bent 

And trembled with forebodings deep and strange. 

There lay Malinche and all his marshalled hosts. 

White men from o'er the sea, the Totonacs 

From distant Cempoalla's torrid clime, 

And throngs of fierce Tlascala's hated sons, 

There rested from their long and toilsome march. 

Before another sun should rise and set 

That host would knock at Tenochtitlan's gate. 

Upon Tezcuco's shore, with towers high 

And from the Aztec city dimly seen 

A sacred teocallis grandly rose 

Upon whose summit stood Mexitli's shrine 

Where human sacrifices daily bled 

Before the war-god's stern and awful form. 

Thither, before that bright autumnal day 

Had faded, Montezuma and his lords 

With royal fleet went gliding o'er the lake 

Bearing the victims doomed to sacrifice, 

Yet, ere they gained the templed halls of death, 

To win once more Mexitli's gracious smile, 

To seek the boon so vainly craved before, 

Eelief from dread Malinche's bloody host, 

A sudden storm arose. The howling winds 



45 

Leapt madly down and caught the rolling tides 

In wild embrace and hurled the spray aloft. 

Deep aarkness with its swooping pinions shed 

Disastrous shadows on the troubled waves. 

The rain in torrents fell, and lightnings blazed 

And struggled with the black unconquered night. 

A captive in the barge that victims bore 

Slipping the thongs that bound his aching hands, 

Unseen, unnoticed, in the tumult dire 

Plunged headlong midst the surges boiling high 

And safely gained at last the storm lashed shore. 

With hurried march the angry storm passed on ; 

A calm stole slowly o'er the troubled lake 

While through the broken clouds that rearward hung 

Fol'wing the footsteps of the tempest, shone 

The setting sun with soft and mellow beam 

Eemoving danger from the royal suite 

And gave once more the Aztec's beauteous world 

The bright and rosy tints of hope and joy. 

" 'Tis well," said Montezuma as he stepped 

Upon the rock paved shore. " The storm has spent 

The fury of its wrath, and ev'ry barge 

Safe from the cruel sport of wind and wave 

Is mooring now upon the sacred beach. 

Behold how bright the glorious sunset sheds 

His parting rays upon these polished stones 

And gilded tow'rs that crown yon holy fane, 

The lofty throne, where great Mexitli sits 

And graciously receives our sacrifice. 

As yon refulgent sun -god sweeps the clouds 



46 



Of darkness from our sight, and paints the world 

Anew with golden tints and cheery hues, 

So may our patron god sweep from our skies 

The sombre clouds of danger o'er us hung 

And brighten all the Aztec world with hope. 

Bring forth the victims now and let us mount 

That winding way which leads where blood is shed 

Atoning for the nation's grievous sins. 

But what strange thing is this, my trusted guards? 

The seventh victim, where is he? come, speak ! 

What have ye done with fierce Tezcalican ? " 

" We slew him as the vilest of the seven," 

The guards reply, '' and cast him midst the floods 

That round us rolled, deep yawning for our lives 

If haply thus we might appease Tlaloc 

The mighty god, who rules the storm cast heav'n, 

Who sends us both the calm and gentle show'r 

And fierce deluging rains, with thunder mixed." 

No more was said. A shadow as of grief 

Passed o'er the Aztec's dark imperial brow 

As slowly turning round he led the way. 

With solemn steps they climbed the steep ascent 

That round and round the pyramidal pile 

With less'ning spirals high and higher wound 

Until, the summit's broad arena gained, 

They stood before Mexitli's cherished shrine 

To make atonement tor the nation's sins. 

Then Montezuma's voice was heard in prayer : 

"O, bear us ! great Mexitli, patron god. 

Preserver of our nation's pow'r and fame, 



47 

Decreer of our future destiny, 

O, hear the cries of thy unhappy sons, 

For troubles, like a sea of boistrous waves 

With tumult dire, upon us fiercely leap 

Threat'ning to 'whelm us neath resistless floods. 

Like the dread storm, that madly shrieks and howls 

Among the mountain's dreary solitudes 

Grim Fear hath rushed upon our fainting hearts. 

And the deep darkness of despair rolls night. 

Moonless and starless on our gloomy souls. 

Let now thy mighty hand be stretched to save. 

At thy command, yoa beauteous city rose 

From out the depths of fair Tezcuco's lake 

And like a lily sat upon the waves. 

Its foes have felt the vengeance of thy arm 

Or fled dismayed before thy winged shafts. 

O, great Mexitli ! save us from the wiles 

Of dread Malinche, who rests e'en now his hosts 

Upon the Chalcan shore. His coming throws 

An ominous eclipse, wide o'er the land 

And fills our hearts with sad uncertainty. 

If aught of cold neglect hath angered thee, 

If we have failed in off' rings rich and rare, 

Forgive us all these faults, what'er they be. 

And grant us graciously thy help divine 

While we renew our vows to worship thee 

As once our fathers did in olden times 

E'en as we did, when I, a humble priest. 

Was glad to sweep the stairways of thy halls 

Or decorate thy shrine with simple flowers. 



48 

Then daily, noble lives were given thee ; 

Not such poor, worthless slaves as later sans 

Have seen upon thy stone of sacrifice. 

Henceforth, if thou wilt bless the Aztec race 

Thy altars ne'er shall want for noble blood." 

The emperor arose and calmly stood 

Before Mexitli's throne, while one by one 

The priests led forth the pale and tremb'iing men 

Doomed to the sacrifice. The great drum beat 

Knelling the last heart throbs of victims slain 

To mollify the angry god's deep ire. 

'Twas Montezuma's last great sacrifice. 

The pjw'rs above, that rule the azure sky, 

That guide the shining orbs of night and day, 

The gods of earth, and of the wat'ry deeps. 

To whom high teocalli filled the land, 

Whose idols grim, could only desolate 

The beauteous plains that lay beneath their shrines. 

Gave no response to prayer or sacrifice. 



PART VII. 



'Twas night, and dusky shadows darkly lay 
Upon lake Chalco's dimlit, smooth expanse. 
The Spanish camp was quiet, save the tread 
Of watchful sentinel or breathings deep 
Where slept the rider and his weary steed. 



49 

Wakeful and anxious Cortez eat and gazed 

Upon the darksome water's placid face 

That seemed to rest in gentle unison 

With all the sleeping world that lay around, 

And mused upon the herculean task, 

The mighty work, that he, almost alone, 

And far from aid, had dared to undertake. 

A few brave men with strong and willing hands 

Were his, to do his ev'ry bidding well ; 

His dark allies could give but feeble aid ; 

His own right arm, his quick and fertile brain, 

And faith unwav'ring in his destiny, 

Must be the main and all pervadiug pow'r. 

Before him lay, almost within his grasp. 

The golden prize, for which he long had toiled, 

For which he risked his all, his wealth and home 

His fame, and life itself The morning sun 

Would show the gleaming of its palaces. 

Would touch with fire its red tetzontli walls, 

Would paint upon the azure sky beyond 

In bold outline, its templed towers grand. 

Would burnish with his radiant beams afar 

Tezcuco's lambent waves and verdant shores. 

And show where lofty built Chapoltepec 

High heavenward lifts its domes magnificent. 

Scarce half a score of easy miles away 

There stood the beauteous city, grand and strong 

And mighty in its splendid opulence, 

The vaunted pride of all the Aztec world. 

The seat of Montezuma's dreaded pow'r. 



50 

From out its swarming streets its armed hosts 
Had often poured like dark resistless floods 
Until its surges broke upon the strand 
Where briny oceans toss their foaming seas. 
The glit'ring prize, indeed, was near at hand 
But inaccessible and strong it stood 
Defended by Tezcuco's friendly tides, 
A hundred thousand warriors stood prepared 
To sieze their arms at Montezuma's call 
And for their city dare the fate of war. 
Not force alone could give success but craft 
And cunning stratagems in friendship's guise 
Must give abundant aid. The noble cause, 
To add so rich a jewel to the crown 
Of glorious Spain, to overthrow at once 
The dark and bloody rites of pagan shrines, 
Convert a nation to the Christian faith. 
And plant the cross within this wondrous land, 
Would sanctify the means, however harsh. 
Each jarring element in all the realm. 
Each foe hereditary must be roused, 
Must be united and combined to aid 
In crushing this barbarian emperor. 
Approaching footsteps broke at last the train 
Of reveries that circled through his brain. 
'Twas Alvarado, whom the Indians named 
Tonatiuh, but not alone he came ; 
Close by his side a youthful Toltec walked. 
"Cortez ! I've brought to thee a fugitive 
Escaped from yonder city's tyrant lord. 



61 

Perchance he bringeth news of deep import, 

Some tidings that may give us needed aid 

In this our great and weighty enterprise." 

"Most noble Alvarado ! thanks to thee ! 

Let fair Marina come and be our tongue." 

She came and thus, through her, the Indian spake 

"A captive have I been for weary months 

Bound fast within a dismal prison cell, 

Condemned to linger there in anxious dread 

Just poised 'twixt painful life and cruel death 

Waiting the horrid doom for me prepared 

Before Mexitli's dark and bloody throne. 

IN'o prisoner saved from war's devouring wrath, 

No felon branded with inhuman crimes 

Was I. My crimes were those of purest love 

Where law and justice were upon my side. 

The lord of yonder island city snatched 

The bird of hope and life from this poor heart 

And when its folded wings with sorrow drooped 

Within that gilded cage, Chapoltepec, 

And all its music ceased, my soul grew dark 

And vengeance whispered fierce imaginings. 

I strove to open wide the prison door 

And bear my prize to some fair mountain's shade, 

But vain were all my hopes. A narrow cell 

Where golden sunlight never broke the gloom 

Nor warmed with cheerful glow my clammy bed. 

Where sights of joyous beauty pleased no more 

The weary eye, where sounds of melody, 

Of mirth, of love or passion, never came 



52 

To wake the silence of the lifeless stone, 

Became my sole domain, my little world ; 

But yesterday brought me deliverance. 

Filled with deep terror at thy near approach, 

For you are held as foes of dreaded pow'r, 

Fearing alike to welcome you as friends 

Or meet you boldly on the battle field 

Lest he should fight against the godlike sons 

Of Quetzalcoatl's race and thus incur 

The fiercest anger of the guardian gods, 

King Montezuma led me forth to die 

The victim's death before the war-gods face, 

If haply thus the patron diety 

Appeased by such a bloody sacrifice 

Would save from ev'ry foe, the Aztec world ; 

1 was but one; with me six others were, 

All doomed alike to sacrificial death. 

Guarded and bound, they placed us on a barge 

Then, launching out upon Tezcuco's tide 

They strove to reach a lofty temple built 

Upon the mainland shore, where dark and grim 

The war-gods image feasts on human flesh. 

A storm came on. A wilder, fiercer one 

Was never seen. How thick the darkness fell. 

How poured the rain, in dreadful torrents down, 

I need not tell; Thine eyes its fury saw, 

Thine ears the mutt'ring of its thunders heard ; 

To die amidst the waves, were better far 

Than bleed beneath the hands of cruel priests. 

I slipped the knotted bands, and headlong plunged 



53 

Within the dark and wildly rolling deeps. 

Kind fortune gave her aid, and here am I, 

Thy friend and servant, but a bitter foe 

To Montezuma and his tyrant house. 

With thy consent I'll join thy armed host. 

Some aid, perhaps, my feeble hand may bring." 

The night passed swiftly o'er the sleeping throngs. 

High over eastern hills and mountain crags 

A bright autumnal sun revealed its face 

From cloudless skies and filled the world with light, 

And as it looked upon the smiling plain 

It saw the Spanish host upon the march, 

For Montezuma's wave washed citadel. 

What tongue can tell, the varied feelings, hopes 

And aspirations ot that moving band. 

The clangor and the din of horses' hoofs 

Upon the causey's hard cemented road, 

The trundling of their cannon wheels that roll 

A dull monotony of heavy sounds, 

The strange jargon of words, where gath'ring crowds 

Looked on the moving pageant with surprise 

And thought the prancing steed and rider one, 

A god-like being from some distant sphere. 

Broke on the list'ning ear with strange effect. 

They gazed with wonder on the fruitful plain 

Now clothed and decked with autumn's fairest robes. 

They saw the purple orchards bend with fruit. 

Gardens still fresh with bloom of ling'ring flow'rs 

And fields of cotton and the yellow maize. 

Mid shelt'ring groves and clustering vines they caught 



54 

G-limpses of happy homes and villages. 

Along their route lake Chalco stretched afar 

Its silv'ry floods and on its bosom bore 

A thousand light canoes and floating isles. 

Some eyes in simple wonder thus beheld 

The beauteous scene and longed for stranger sights; 

Some gazed with saddened brows, and turned their 

thoughts 
Toward the distant hills of old Castile ; 
To sonie, these scenes of buay life and pow'r 
But added fear to hearts already faint ; 
To others they could bring but visions bright 
Of countless wealth and ever during fame. 
Still on and on they moved, until at last 
The gleaming walls of Tenochtitlan burst 
Upon the sight. Wild cheer on cheer went up 
Wide echoing o'er lake Chalco's quiet deeps 
Until enthusiasm kindled high 
In ev'ry heart, and each man felt himself 
A host whose own right arm might battles win. 
Alas how tew, that greet with joyful shouts 
The sight of that fair city's battlements 
Shall e'er return from neath its hostile walls. 



65 



PART VIII. 



An aged man with wearied steps drew near 

The sloping brow of fair Chapoltepec 

And neath a giant cypress sat him dowD 

And gazed with wistful eyes upon the scene 

That lay in view so lovely and so grand. 

How bright and splendid in the mellow light 

Of autumn's setting sun the city looked. 

More like some vision of enchantment spread 

Before the dreamer's fertile brain it seemed 

Than earth's reality. How smooth and calm 

The lake lay in the bosom of the vale 

And seemed to bear upon its silver wave, 

With all its solid teocallis tow'rs 

Its stone built dykes and massive palaces 

The proudest city of the western world. 

Around and on the water's clear expanse 

Where e'er his wand'ring eye might turn he saw 

The signs of human life and human toil ; 

Chinampas moving slowly o'er the deeps 

Or anchored where some sheltered cove gleams out, 

Light bounding barks that scarcely touched the tide, 

Orchards and woods and cultivated fields 

Stretching along Tuzcuco's fertile shores, 

Cities and towns and temples gleaming far 

And throwing dark reflections o'er the lake. 

Thus gazed the Toltec then, perchance, he dreamed : 



56 

A mystic form before the old man stood 

E^en such as old traditions often tell 

The benefactor Quetzacoatl wore 

In ancient times when men beheld his face, 

A tall and noble form, a snowy beard, 

A mild blue eye beneath a sunny brow ; 

In garments white his graceful form was clad ; 

A belt with golden clasp of strange device 

Around'his waist restrained his flowing robes, 

While down his shoulders streamed his long white hair. 

His clear toned voice with strange magnetic pow'r 

Fell on the aged Toltec's list'ning ear : 

"Arise, O seer ! and get thee to the hills 

From whence thou comest, for a storm shall rise 

And sweep this lovely scene with horrid ruin. 

From the deep, mountain caves where Fairies dwell 

From that dark realm where sunlight never falls 

Where Fate his doleful record keeps, I came. 

The raging Furies now are on the win 

To vex this land and dire misfortune bring. 

Death ready holds his sharpened blade and longs 

With eager hope th' expected carnival 

When Fate shall bid him stretch his pinions dark 

And smite the land with sword and pestilence. 

A change is coming o'er the nation soon. 

'Tis close at hand. Its shadow even now 

Darkens the throne of Aztec royalty. 

But darker yet and thicker, deeper still. 

Its gloom shall fall, enshrouding high and low 

In one long, black, despairing night of woe. 



6^ 

Hast thou not heard how ocean floods have thrown 

Upon these shores a host of strangers, born 

Far toward the orient realms of rising day? 

Hast thou not heard them called the Teules bright 

The children of the sun from heaven come? 

Look on yon beauteous city girt around 

With clear Tezcuco's ever lambent floods. 

The Tlat-e-lol-co with its busy crowds 

Is seen where all these smooth paved highways meet. 

That lordly pile is Montezuma's home. 

Within its curtained halls and fragrant rooms 

Embassadors and kings their homage give 

To Tenochtitlan's lord, and messengers 

From ev'ry tributary nation briog 

Tithings and offerings of treasured wealth. 

With portals op'ning on the market square 

Behold another splendid palace stand 

Where Montezuma's grandsire long ago 

His court maintained in rare magnificence. 

Within its stately walls and roomy aisles 

The white man's face is seen ; the steady tramp 

Of sentinel rings through the corridors 

And horses neigh, within its open courts. 

The Spaniards with their wearied tamanes 

And warriors from Tlascala's rocky dells 

Have safely passed the causey's narrow track. 

The open gates, and through the surging crowds 

That thronged in countless thousands to behold 

The wondrous visitors, whose fame had spread 

Through all the regions of the Aztec world, 



58 



And now are quartered in those ancient halls. 

Though entertained with friendship and respect, 

Fed by the bounty of the royal board, 

Arrayed in costly robes and decked with gold 

And ornaments of rare and precious stones 

Drawn from the hoarded treasures of the realm 

By order of the Indian emperor, 

Yet they are vigilant and well they keep 

Within those strong built walls no careless watch. 

Their coming sounds the knell of Aztec pow'r. 

Thy broken sceptre down to earth shall fall 

O fairest city of the lake of lakes ! 

Weep for thy throne is rent and desolate ; 

Thy race shall rule no more, but humbly serve; 

Sorrows shall darken all thy sunny sky ; 

Thy warriors valiant, strong, and firm, shall fall 

Beneath the strangers all devouring sword ; 

The direful pestilence shall visit thee 

And thou shalt mourn thy widowed, childless state; 

Thy palaces shall topple down in ruin 

And all thy mighty teocalli reared 

Iq honor of thy gods, to shapeless mounds 

Shall crumble, leaving scarce a sculptured stone 

To tell the tale of gods and worshippers 

Destroyed and numbered with the things that were. 

Fallen and prostrate neath the Spaniard's heel 

Thy race can only cry in agony 

And call on Death to cure the troubled heart. 

Drink! drink! the bitter cup prepared for thee, 

For God hath seen thy dark and cruel deeds 



59 



Tenochtitlan beauty of the lake. 
Drink deep and let thy dying wail resound 
A warning to the nations of the earth ! 

As old traditions long have prophesied 
Of my return, so have I come again 
But not to rule my ancient kingdom o'er 
And teach thee mercy, love and purer faith 
As once 1 taught the peaceful Toltec race 
But bid thy lands, I loved so well, adieu. 
Grieve o'er thy fallen state and coming doom 
Then, to my mystic shore repair again." 
The vision faded from the old man's eyes 
And all was silent save the busy hum 
That floated from the city's crowded marts. 
" 'Tis well perchance," the Toltec calmly mused 
" That spirit came and timely warning gave. 
I'll heed those words prophetic and return, 
For dangers lurk in ev'ry ambush here 
And coming wars can bring no charm for me. 

1 cannot follow where the banner leads. 
These aged limbs of mine can bear no more 
The added weight of buckler, spear and helm. 
Whatever changing revolutions come 

Little have I, indeed, to gain or lose 
Save the faint hope of seeing her again 
My darling child Copalpa, last bright link 
That binds my soul to earth and she, perhaps. 
E'en now walks in those bright celestial fields 
Where throng the happy spirits of the blest. 
Or bending o'er the parapets of heaven 



60 

With garlands wreathed of never fading light 

Upon her loving brow, with radiant hands 

Beckons me on my slow paced journey there. 

Yes, I'll return to yonder distant home 

Though drear and desolate it waits for me, 

Yet ere I go from hence I'll question well 

That flower girl that bears so jauntily 

Her basket with its load of sweet boquets 

And fragrant fruits, and learn what'er I can 

Of Montezuma and his palaces. 

E'en now perhaps may be the chosen time 

While strangers fill his heart with awe and dread 

To bring my only child deliverance." 

They met and O, what rapturous joy was theirs ; 

How unexpected, yet what ecstacy. 

'Twas fair Copalpa's face he eaw once more, 

Again her sweet and loving voice he heard. 

" O father, father ! heaven bless thee now 

And ever more. How fortunate am I. 

What gladness thrills my heart. Can it be real 

Or do I dream ? so oft I've dreamed of thee. 

Last night I dreamed that I should meet thee here. 

I've just escaped from yonder palace walls 

By means of this disguise that covers me. 

Quick father let us fly. My absence marked 

Pursuit may blast again my growing hopes." 

" Yes, yes, dear child ! " the father said, " Come on. 

This joy gives strength and vital energy. 

We must not linger here. Away ! away ! 

For mountain dens where wild beasts love to dwell. 



61 



Away from city, plain and gleaming lake ; 

No safety midst the pleasant haunts of men 

To us is given ; that boon is only found 

Where rocky steeps and overhanging crags, 

Dark gorges hidden neath the forest shades, 

And rugged mountains inaccessible 

Forbid the near approach of ruthless man." 

Their flight was toward the hills, that northward 

stretch 
Their rocky chains around the pleasant vale. 
Not on the open highways ever thronged, 
Nor midst the happy villages, they passed, 
But through deserted fields and forests wild 
They chose unseen their lonely, winding way. 
The daylight fled, and dark-robed Night led forth 
Orion, shining with his starry robes 
To guide the wand'rers on their weary way. 
"Father," the fair Copalpa sighed at last, 
"Oh, I'm so weary, let us rest awhile 
Within the darkness of this bushy screen ; 
My heart beats faint, and I can scarcely raise 
My aching limbs to stumble on the way ; 
Come sit thee here and while we rest I'll tell 
Of Montezuma and the strange Malinche. 
Thou knowest well how white men crossed the sea 
And gained the Aztec shore, then marching on 
Th tough valleys wide and over mountain crags. 
Mid hostile tribes, and cities black with ruin. 
Reached fair Tezcuco's vale and shelter found 
Within the ancient halls of royalty. 



62 

But yesterday an interview, Malinche 

Obtained with Montezuma and his court. 

The king with mild benignity received 

The white man's chief and then addressed him thus 

'I oft have heard of thee, my friend Malinche, 

And wondered what thy mission here could mean. 

Tell me of things beyond the ocean tide, 

Thy king, thy native country and its laws, 

And of thyself. What is thy titled rank, 

And why thy royal master sends thee here 

To visit me. I wish to know it all.' 

Then Cortez bowing, thus addressed the king: 

'We come, great Montezuma, not as foes 

To rend th}^ noble empire from thy hand 

But as embassadors we seek thy throne. 

Our Christian king sends messages of love, 

Would gladly form alliances with thee 

Enriching with commercial intercourse 

Thy mighty nation, and his royal realm. 

And more ; I see a false religion hangs 

Like Night's deep darkness o'er thy native race 

That brings but woe and pain upon thy land, 

And will, at last, by gross delusions sink 

Thy nation in perdition's deepest pit 

Where light and hope and joy can never come. 

We offer thee, the holy Christian faith 

Brought down from heav'n by the Son of God, 

Attested by his more than human pow'r. 

Given to man, to save from wrath deserved. 

Preached by the saints to all the eastern world. 



63 



The only faith that had its birth in heaven. 

Its banner is God's love to fallen man j 

Its symbol is the holy crucifix ; 

Its mottoes, hope, and faith and charity. 

Upon its altars blood is never shed. 

The sacrifice the son of God demands 

Is true repentance of each earthly sin. 

It offers us a bright and happy home 

When we have passed the darksome river death 

Where sorrows never dim the radiant brow, 

Where joy unclouded by a single woe 

Fills all that beatific world with light, 

Where God's eternal throne forever stands 

The glory of th' unbounded universe. 

Eeceive us then O king, as ministers 

Sent by our gracious monarch for thy good, 

Sent to redeem thy race from Satan's chains 

And freedom give from ev'ry bloody rite.' 

He ceased, and Montezuma thus replied : 

' My friend Malinche, all praise and love is due 

Your noble king, and it shall be my joy 

To honor him above all earthly names, 

To seek his favor and his confidence. 

And make him know me as a brother king. 

Before I saw thy face I often heard 

Thee called religion's stern, relentless foe. 

Have heard of sacred shrines to ashes burned 

And hoiy symbols trampled under foot 

By thy command. How good thy gods may be 

What mighty pow'rs they have I cannot tell, 



64 



But mine are great and good enough for me. 

They are the gods my ancestors adored, 

Who guarded us when we were weak and poor, 

Who gave us here a beauteous island home. 

Who gave us vict'ry over all our foes. 

Who gave us riches, power, and great renown. 

I served them humbly as a menial priest. 

They raised me up and placed th' imperial crown 

Upon my brow, and now for twenty years 

Have guarded me with ever watchful care, 

Wherefore I cannot worship other gods. 

When human thoughts for forty years have run 

Within the selfsame channel, hard it is 

To turn their course or bend them to the will. 

Our gods, too, offer us a happy home 

Within the spirit world, a bright abode 

Amidst the glories of the rolling sun 

Where darkness, mist, and shadows never fall, 

Where all the good with choral symphonies 

Shall circle earth rejoicing in the light 

Of endless day until prepared, at last 

For brighter realms beyond the western sky, 

Where we shall find a home forever blest 

Where great Tezcatlipoca reigns in peace 

O'er all the beauteous plains of paradise. 

Wherefore Malinche press not thy doctrine now; 

The hope that I should change my steadfast faith 

Is all in vain, but let our friendship rest 

On other grounds than that of common creed. 

Behold yon pyramidal temple rise 



65 

High overtopping all the city round ! 

'Tis dedicated to our patron god, 

The great Mexitli, whom we all adore 

And on his altars heap in sacrifice 

The dearest treasures we may call our own ; 

For all we are, and all we have is his, 

Given us by this glorious god of heaven. 

Given to use awhile and then restore 

That all mankind may learn true gratitude. 

I grant thee, for the service of thy god, 

A portion of that temple's holy square 

Wherein your daily worship may arise, 

A place whereon to bend the supliant knee 

And lift your pious hearts from earth to heaven.' 

He ceased, and then with words of gratitude 

Malinche retiring left the royal halls. 

Thus day by day in grand formality 

They meet to talk of Anahuac's fair clime. 

Of Europe's Christian realms and Christian faith. 

But dark hypocrisy lies there concealed 

And each one hides his craft in friendly smiles. 

Within his capital the one beholds 

A dreaded foe and longs to see the time 

When fierce Malinche and all his impious hosts 

Shall die upon the altars of his gods 

In expiation for Cholula's wrongs. 

The other watches some excuse to sieze 

The Indian emperor, subvert his pow'r. 

And to the Spanish crown a jewel add 

Eclipsing all the brilliants of Peru. 



66 



Now father let us haste upon our way ; 
I feel refreshed and long to gain the wilds 
Of yonder mountain crags and canons dark 
Where we, at last, secure from royal foes 
Within some friendly cavern may repose." 



PART IX. 



Over the crystal depths of Xaltocan 
A light canoe swept hurriedly along, 
Urged onward by a strong impetuous arm 
Until it struck upon the sandy beach 
Beneath the shadow of the Toltec's home. 
Tezcalican stepped forth upon the shore 
And sought the sacred spot to mem'ry dear, 
Where fair Copalpa dwelt in days gone by. 
All silent stood the house ; no sound of life 
Within its dreary portals reached his ear ; 
Where flowers once in radiant beauty bloomed 
Now weeds alone of rankest growth were found ; 
Slow dying from the want of fost'ring hands. 
For life, the unkempt trees still struggled on ; 
Convolvuli with all entwining arms 
Had seized the wasting door that once had swung 
On friendly hinge, to greet each passer by. 
And blocked the way with walls of living green ; 



67 

The thatch was rent by age and beating storm, 

And lonesome gloom, complete posession held. 

With heavy, aching heart and eyes suffused 

He sadly gazed upon that ruined home. 

Sweet forms of life had once held carnival 

Within those dismal halls, and love, and joy, and peace, 

In years agone had blessed those crumbling walls. 

O'er changes sad 'twas vain to longer grieve ; 

Of all the past, sweet memories would live ; 

The future, though unknown, was all he had ; 

He forced the doors ; the walls but echoed back 

His own impatient footfalls on the floor. 

All desolate he found the Toltec's home. 

With deep surprise, as one from dead returned 

To linger lovingly amidst the scenes 

Held dearest, sweetest, in this mundane life 

The villagers, his well known face beheld. 

No one could tell him where the seer had gone 

Or speak of sweet Copalpa's hidden fate. 

Out on the lake once more, he sped his bark. 

When far from shore, he stayed his dipping blade 

And slowly drifting o'er the smooth expanse 

Resigned himself to fitful wind or tide. 

The sunset with its brilliance passed away ; 

With noiseless step the Night came softly down 

Sprinkling the ebon sky with countless gems. 

Still drifting gently on he dreamed or slept 

While midnight stars gleamed o'er the dusky scene. 

At last, with golden skies, the morning came 

And found him stranded on the northern shore. 



68 



He slept no more; he sprang upon the land ; 

He marked the course thus given by the breath 

Of airy heav'n, then guided by the breeze 

He sought the wildwood haunts of northern hills. 

With rapid pace, scarce knowing where he went 

Or why he took th' untraveled wildwood path, 

He onward pressed his journey, hoping chance 

Or accident would solve the mystery 

That darkly veiled the aged Toltec's fate. 

As thus he wandered waking mem'ry threw 

Before his eyes a vision of the past. 

In hunter's costume wildly clad he saw 

Again the Toltec and himself pursue 

With cautious haste and arrows ready fixed 

The ocelotl to his mountain den. 

Once more with mem'ry's eye he seemed to see 

Half veiled in white by falling cascade's spray 

A cavern door wide opening into fairy halls 

With smooth laid rocky floors, with snowy walls, 

With crystal domes of opalescent spar 

Where often they had found repose and rest 

Or stored the spoils of many a mountain chase. 

Something seemed to whisper in his ear 

He may have fled the cruel, heartless world 

And sought that cavern midst the wilderness 

To breathe away in peaceful solitude 

The last sad hours of his despondent life. 

Among the hills that ancient cave he sought 

Nor wandered long ere cascades foam revealed 

The spot where hidden portals once received 



69 



With welcome rest, the wearied hunter's feet. 

With anxious heart he gained the cavern door 

And as he passed witbio, O strange surprise ! 

How sweet a vision met his eager gaze. 

'Twas fair Copalpa and her Toltec sire 

Whose forms, in firelight's crimson glow revealed, 

Filled all his soul with more than earthly light. 

The deep astonishment, the rapturous joy, 

No pen can write, no human tongue can tell. 

The heart bereaved of all that's dear on earth. 

In doubt, suspense, and tearful agony, 

When unexpectedly from grief relieved. 

Its sweetest hopes restored, alone can feel 

Such depths of joy, such happiness as theirs. 

Copalpa long had thought her lover dead. 

The very day the royal pages said 

Tezcalican was doomed to sacrifice, 

She sadly heard the war-god's fatal drum 

Wide echo o'er Tezcuco's lake and vale 

With slow and solemn stroke, the victim's knell. 

How sweet the happy days now passed away. 

All tears were dried and banished ev'ry sigh ; 

The clouded brow grew bright and fair again, 

And hoary age regained its waning strength. 

The forest game supplied their present wants 

And when afar the beauteous sunset threw 

Its brilliant tints upon the wooded hills 

Tezcalican returning from the chase 

Found bounteous cheer and loving smiles. 

Thus far away in wild secluded haunts 



70 



Beyond the sight and sound of angry strife 

These worn and weary waifs of human life 

A sweet and undisturbed repose enjoyed, 

And oft when twilight shadows softly crept 

With soothing spell adown the mountain slopes 

Each gave the hist'ry of adventures past 

And thus Tezcalicaa his story told : 

" When we were captured on Tezcuco's wave 

They bore me o'er the flood, bound hand and foot 

To Tenochtitlan's darkest prison cell. 

With six unhappy victims like myself 

Condemned to die a sacrificial death 

Our royal keepers led us forth to bid 

A last adieu to all the scenes of earth 

And o'er Tezcuco's tides with rapid oars 

And southern course, they hurried us along, 

Yet ere we gained the templed shore of death 

Where lofty teocallis walls are seen 

High overlooking all the fairy vale. 

The god of storms arose and smote the lake 

With roaring winds and blinding rain and hail. 

I slipped, unseen, the thongs that bound my hands 

And plunged amidst the white and boiling foam 

And safely reached at last the neighb'ring shore. 

At Ajotzinco lay the Spanish host. 

The followers of great Malinche I joined 

And, like a warrior from Tlaseala's hills 

Disguised, I marched beneath the white man's flag 

And with them entered Tenochtitlan's walls. 

There quietly for days and weeks I dwelt 



71 



And saw the mighty changes and events 

That to the center shook the Aztec pow'r. 

Alas, what horrid woes, what scenes of blood, 

Of death and ruin dire have I beheld. 

Although in seeming friendship oft they met, 

The Indian emperor and fierce Malinche, 

Yet from the first, they were but deadly foes 

And each one plaj^ed dark games of perfidy. 

At last the mask was rudely thrown aside. 

Malinche was in the grand reception hall 

Of Aztec royalty ; his faithful guards 

With brave Tonatiuh, their chief, stood near. 

Almost unguarded Montezuma sat 

Upon his throne and friendly greetings gave. 

With fierce upbraidings then Malinche began 

Accusing him of secret murders done 

By his command, of treach'rous plots arranged 

Threat'ning the lives of all the Spanish host. 

In vain he strove to plead his innocence ; 

The sword was at his breast ; the iron shaft 

His soul had pierced; a pris'ner weak and dumb 

He sadly left his grand magnificence 

And neath the stranger's eye, with feeble hand 

And loosening rein, ruled o'er the Aztec world. 

A calm prevailed ; Malinche was far away ; 

The Spaniards walked the streets or traveled safe 

Through all the land, but direful woes were near 

And signs of ominous portent were seen 

Boding calamities and mournful ruin. 

'Twas greedy avarice broke the quietude 



72 

And made the city red with ghastly slain 

And stained the lake with many a bleeding corse. 

A thousand of the city's noblest youth 

Arrayed in garments wrought with costly care 

Shining with gold and pearls and sapphires bright, 

Upon Mexitli's greatest temple held 

With joyous rites a sacred festival. 

With armed men Tonatiuh came forth 

And on that festive, helpless throng he fell 

With slaughter indiscriminate nor ceased 

The falchion's bloody work until expired 

The last of all that gay and happy band. 

And oh ! what grief and anger fiercely burned 

Within each Aztec heart as horror struck 

They gazed upon their murdered, pillaged dead, 

Then like the rushing flames that leap and swell 

Where prairies stretch their arid meadows far. 

The smothered fires of hot revenge burst forth 

With furious rage, and blood! blood! blood ! was hissed 

Through gnashing teeth, and all the multitude 

Cried war! warl war! through all the crowded streets 

And seized their arms to join the mortal fray. 

Then louder grew the harsh discordant din 

And dark tumultuous crowds like ocean waves 

Surged through the streets and fell with dire assault 

Upon the red tetzontli palaces 

That sheltered in their ancient halls the men 

All red and gory from the work of death. 

The storm of battle rolled along its walls 

And fiercely swept around its solid tow'rs ; 



73 

Sharp, flinted arrows hissing through the air 

And missiles from a myriad brawny arms 

All mingling with the sulphurous fire and smoke 

Of arquebus and thunder belching throats 

Of pondrous culverins, shook earth and sky, 

And strewed the earthy with bleeding, dying men. 

Upon the walls the angry Aztecs rushed. 

The bolted gates they strove to batter down 

Or scale the battlements, but only fell 

Beneath the white man's blade or sank in death 

Where fierce Tlascala's spears the breaches kept. 

Death ruled the battle's dread, terrific hour 

And many a spirit sought its kindred dead 

Within the sunset's ever glowing clime. 

Night came at last and closed the bloody scene. 

The morning dawned ; the ghastly dead were gone : 

No wounded lay upon the stony streets ; 

A death like silence o'er the city reigned ; 

'Twas short ; again low distant murmurs told 

That mighty hosts were marshalling in arms 

To try the bloody fate of battles more. 

On, on they come, and wilder and wilder grew 

The rash assault of reckless, daring men. 

It was a weary day of blood and death. 

Again the darkness bade the tumult cease. 

Thus day by day the cruel siege went on 

Until Malinche with reinforcements came. 

O'er narrow dikes and broad obstructed streets 

He forced his way and joined the weary men 

So long beleagured by the Aztec hosts. 



74 

New strength and energy for our defense 

His presence gave. He strove to pacify 

The fi'ry passions of the angry foe; 

A show'r of arrows was the answer giv'n. 

Upon the loftiest tow'r that reared on high 

Its summit o'er his guarded citadel 

Next Montezuma showed his well known face. 

The clash of arms and battle's clangor ceased. 

Within an outer court among allies 

And brave Tlascalan warriors, armed I stood 

And heard his clear toned voice in half command 

And half entreaty strive to calm the storm 

And soothe the boistrous elements to peace. 

As oft you've seen the mountain hurricane 

With wrathful shrieks, leap down from rocky heights 

And roll the quiet deeps of Xaltocan 

In wild tumultuous waves of boiling foam 

E'en so at sight of him my soul was stirred 

And frenzy seized upon my heated brain. 

Sweet joys forever lost, hearts broken, crushed. 

Sorrows and insults, dungeon's dreary cells, 

And solemn vows thy fearful wrongs and mine 

To right, nerved ev'ry muscle in my frame 

And loudly whispered, ' let the tyrant die.' 

The murmurs scarce suppressed now trebly swelled 

And clamor dire soon drowned the speaker's voice. 

Around his kingly head a shower fell 

Of missiles from the angry crowd below. 

My arrow too sped on its vengeful course. 

He fell; whose arrow gave the wrathful blow 



75 



I cannot tell ; 'twas not a weapon gave 

The mortal pang, 'twas grief and shame that laid 

The royal Montezuma low in death. 

Over the ashes of their noble dead 

Awhile the Aztecs mourned and we had peace, 

But short the calm ; brave Cuit-la-hu-a wore 

His brother's crown imperial. War, war, 

The rallying cry was heard through all the land. 

Again with wilder rage and fiercer wrath 

The storm of battle rolls along the earth ; 

Fair Tenochtitlan's walls with terror quake 

And bright Tezcuco trembles neath the shock. 

His mounted cavaliers Malinche led forth 

And often swept the streets with flaming brand 

But all in vain, for ev'ry Aztec slain 

A hundred added foemen seemed to spring 

Full armed from earth. Though many thousands fell 

Still thousands more filled up the bleeding ranks. 

* A thousand lives for one and vict'ry comes 

At last,' is Cuitlahua's dauntless cry, 

' A mighty nation is our firm support, 

Theirs but their own strong arms and weak allies. 

Starvation soon shall do the work for us 

And rid our land of cruel bloody foes.' 

He spoke the truth, for worn and wearied long 

By battle's toil, by constant watchfulness 

And pinched by want, we saw our only choice 

Was ling'ring death within the palace walls 

Or flight beset with perils, dread, unknown. 

With many a charge Malinche had swept the streets 



76 

Of ev'ry foe and we had leveled down 

Each barricade and bridged the deep canals 

When orders came, as night's deep shadows fell, 

To leave the city and its hostile throngs. 

But ah ! the horrors of that dreadful night ; 

What tongue can tell its woes, its strife, its death ; 

All wedged and crowded on the narrow dike, 

The dark and dang'rous waves on either side. 

We hurried on ; one bridge was safely passed ; 

Another bridgeless chasm before us lay. 

Like fiends from some black, hidden shore broke loose 

A myriad hostile boat came swarming on 

And burdened far, Tezcuco's troubled deeps. 

With frantic rage upon our lines they rushed 

And filled the gloomy shades of sombre night 

With all the direful sounds of bloody war. 

Arrows and stones and spears fell thick around 

From either side upon our crowded ranks. 

Some moored their little boats and sprang ashore 

And hand to hand in fierce encounter strove. 

Or grasping each his foe in mad embrace 

Eolled down the narrow, slipp'ry banks and sank 

Within the turbid waters. Shrieks and groans, 

Entreaties and commands, the horses tramp, 

The splash of waves, the roar of Spanish guns. 

Made dismal night resound with hideous din. 

Attacked on ev'ry side, the drawbridge fast. 

Within the darksome gulf before us plunged 

The living stream of reckless, frightened men. 

Some sank to rise no more, some struggled long 



77 

But only fell in cruel Aztec hands 

To die upon the altar's bloody stone. 

A fewer number reached the friendly shore. 

Still onward rolled that living struggling stream. 

With cannons, wrecks, arms, horses, men, the chasm 

Was bridged at last and o'er it safely fled 

The ling'ring remnants of our hapless host. 

Alas ! the horrors of that sad, sad night ; 

Its memory can never fade while sense 

And reason rule this thinking soul of mine. 

The morning found us on Tezcuco's shore 

From present danger free, but ah I how thin 

And weak our ranks; not half our army saved 

From out the jaws of that devouring night. 

For lair Tlascala's land of bread I saw 

Mulinche lead forth his shattered, weakened band. 

Far eastward he hath gone but will return. 

O'er Tenochtitlan's prostrate walls shall float 

Triumphantly the Spaniard's conq'ring flag 

And Aztec pow'r shall fall te rise no more." 

He ceased and thus the Toltec seer began : 

" 'Tis well that cruel pow'r should fall to earth. 

Too long its superstitions dark and dense 

Have veiled this land from all the glorious light 

Kind heaven lain would pour in ceaseless floods 

Upon its ever fair and beauteous plains. 

Those ghastly pyramids of human skulls 

That fill the land, are mournlul monuments 

Of false religion and perverted faith, 

Of bloody, idol worship, dismal rites, 



78 

Of priestly bigotry and sad misrule. 
That cruel race must bow the supliant knee ; 
Its day is past ; the long, long, bitter night 
Begins to cast its gloomy shadows round ; 
Its cup is full of loathsome wickedness 
And it must drain it to the very dregs ; 
Its robes of golden woof and plumage fair 
Are worn and soiled and soon forlorn and weak, 
Naked and desolate, 'twill crouch and weep 
Beneath the pit'less stranger's iron rule. 
Commotions, wars, and pestilential plagues, 
Earthquakes, and devastating flloods, and storms, 
And changes great, and full of dire dismay. 
Shall come upon this land, but rest and peace 
Shall dawn at last and heaven's glorious light 
Eesplendent o'er a world regenerate 
Shall slowly brighten into perfect day." 



79 



JOHN AND I. 



what a merry set were we, 
When ruddy boys long years ago ! 

How wild we romped in thoughtless glee, 
And how we loved the fleecy snow ; 
Our skates shone bright in rapid flight, 
Our limbs were strong and spirits light. 

Ah ! John, we've had some gleesome times 
At th' old brown school house in the dell. 

1 still recall the ringing chimes 
That echoed from the brazen bell ; 
E'en now each well rememb'red note 
Seems on the morning air to float. 

'Twas there too John ! we chose our girls ; 
You one with eyes of azure light 
Who wore her golden hair in curls, 
I, one with hazel eyes as bright, 
With face to me so sweet and fair, 
They both are gone, I know not where 

How changed is all the world since then. 
The passing years have whirled us on, 
And now we're tall and bearded men 
Struggling with fitful fortune, John ; 
And though the vict'ry seems afar 
Bright hope is still our guiding star. 



80 



How sadly now our band is broken ; 
Far o'er the land they're scattered wide ; 
The sculptured stone, affection's tok'n, 
White gleaming oq some green hill side 
Tells where some well rememb'red face 
Hath found a quiet sleeping place. 

The war hath claimed its victims too ; 
Poor Charlie's laughing eyes grew dim 
While bravely clad in Union blue. 
Dead ! dead! he died mid battl's din, 
Died where the old flag rose and fell. 
Died where the cannon boomed his knell. 

Bright Harry too, so sad his fate. 
With lost Sultana's crew he died ; 
Borne from the prison's open gate 
To sink where ever rolls the tide 
Of mighty Mississippi's waves 
Over its dark unfathomed caves. 

Yes John ! our band is broken now, 
And many a silv'ry voice is hushed, 
And grief hath saddened many a brow 
And many a youthful hope is crushed. 
And many an airy castle bright 
Hath faded from our anxious sight. 

A few years more, how short they seem ! 
When wrinkled, gray, and old, the last 
Of our bright band shall sleep to dream 
No more of joys and sorrows past, 
But, with a sweet untroubled rest 
Eecline upon earth's loving breast. 



81 



And now dear John, we'll ever pray, 
Whatever fortune may betide, 
That in the future's glorious day 
With radiant souls all purified 
We'll meet OQce more, a joyful band 
In happy realms of spirit land. 



ETHERIAL FORMS. 



Oh beauteous shapes that fill the air, 
The forms of thought and action fair, 

All forms of good that men have done 
Since earth obeyed the smiling sun, 

Come, breathe upon my languid heart 
And aspirations pure impart. 

Come, touch my soul with living fire. 
And strengthen ev'ry good desire 

That I might lift some drooping form 
From darkness into sunlight warm, 

Rescue some one from sinful chains 

And show him where true freedom reigns. 



82 



SOMNUS. 



When sunlight fades in Western skies 
And Evening o'er our landscape flies 
With widespread wings of sombre hue 
Eclipsing all high heaven's blue, 
I wait for thee with longings deep 
Thou god benign of blessed sleep. 

Whene'er thou see'st the crimson stains 
The dying day leaves on the plains, 
Then come to me, that I may rest 
My languid head upon thy breast, 
And gaze within thy drowsy eyes 
And dream of blissful paradise. 

When wearied with my daily toil 
And senses reel with earth's turmoil. 
When restless thoughts spare not the brain, 
Or sorrow comes with rending pain, 
Then come to me on gentle wing 
And slumber from thy treasures bring. 

When drooping spirits o'er me bend, 
And weights upon my heart suspend, 
And all the world seems hard and cold, 
Then in thy sweet embrace enfold 
Me till my willing soul floats on 
Lethean waves of Acheron. 



83 



Oh, never more while life is mine 
Forsake the couch where I recline. 
When I would know no more of care, 
When I would wasting life repair, 
When I would roam in dreamland bowers, 
Then wreath my brow with restful flow'rs. 

Ah, then how sweet will I repose 
Soothed by the gifts thy love bestows ! 
Eeclining in thy dear embrace 
Ko tears shall stain my radiant face, 
And when old age my strength has riv'n 
From out thy arms shall wake in heav'n. 



ASK AND EMBLA. 

(ash and elm.) 



In ancient time when all the world was young. 
The Asas, from a race of giants sprung, 
The mighty Ymer slew and from his bones 
They built the mountains high with solid stones ; 
From out his flesh the level land was built ; 
The ocean surged where'er his blood was spilt ; 
To grass and trees that love the Summer air 
They changed the slaughtered Ymer's ruddy hair ; 



84 

His eyebrows circling round like ramparts high 

Produced Midgard, a land of azure sky ; 

The clouds dark swelling with abundant rains 

And charged with lightning's fire, sprang from his brains; 

While over all the land and sea thus made 

The mighty giant's dome-like skull was laid. 

Beyond the clouds with outlines dimly seen 

Where mortal beings yet had never been 

Lay Asgard's beauteous fields of pure delight 

Where Asas dwell in homes of silver bright. 

When Gladsheim here, with golden towers shone 

Complete from dome to deep foundation stone. 

Three Asas left their fair and happy lands 

And wandered over Midgard's lonely strands. 

The grass was fresh and green beneath their feet; 

The flowers filled the air with odors sweet; 

The zephyrs whispered in the leafy bow'rs ; 

The birds, too, sang through all the summer hours ; 

Abundant game was seen on ev'ry strand 

And fruit hung ready for the willing hand ; 

The limpid brook that bubbled through the vale 

Was bright with fish, white- clad in silver mail ; 

The sunny skies were radiant over-head ; 

And ocean calmly slept within his bed. 

But on this beauteous world, by Asas raised 

For man, no human eye had ever gazed, 

No human ear had caught the melody 

That murmured sweetly over land and sea. 

Along the sea shore o'er the gleaming sands 

The Asas wandered on through many lands 



85 

Till growing side by side, at last they found 

An ash and elm, with verdant leaflets crowned. 

His hands on them the mighty Loder laid 

While bright the light of Heaven round him played ; 

To each he gave a beauteous human form 

And filled their veins with currents red and warm ; 

He gave them eyes and ears and passions fire 

And filled their throbbing hearts with deep desire. 

Then Odin, great all-father, blest the pair 

And softly breathed on them celestial air 

Endowing them with pow'rs of highest worth, 

A thinking mind, and soul of god-like birth. 



SOMETiriE. 



"Grolden-haired child in the morn of thy being 
Nurtured in kindness, thy parents chief treasure, 
Will you be happier when you are older. 
Knowing the world with its pains and its pleasures ?" 

"O 1 I am longing for bliss more enchanting. 
When I can live in some glorious sun -clime 
Crowned with the chaplets of favoring fortune 
In the bright days of the coming sometime." 



86 

"Pilgrim so weary of life's heavy burdens 
What are the signs empyrean now gleaming ? 
See'st thou glimpses of a gladsome future 
Over thy toilsome pathway streaming?" 

"Yes, my companion in life's rugged journey ; 
Bright are the stars in the heaven now shining 
Lighting the realms of the blessed liereafter, 
Realms that are free from all grief and repining." 

"Storm tossed sailor on life's troubled ocean, 
Victim of sad disappointment and sorrow, 
Can'st thou see aught in the twilight of heaven 
Bidding thee hope for a golden tomorrow ?" 

"Omens I see in the sky's azure regions 
Faintly revealing the light of the dawning ; 
Speed thee, O ! speed thee, angel of brightness, 
Hasten the light of a joyful morning ! " 

"Soon shall the rays of thy golden wings shimmer 
Darkness and shadow shall melt in the sunshine. 
Then shall we read on banners celestial 
Happiness dwells in the sweet coming sometime." 



87 



MEMORIAL DAY. 



O, glorious land, Columbia's strand, 
How broad and rich thy fertile plains ! 

How grandly rise to meet the skies 
Thy lofty peaks and mountain chains. 

We love thy fields that cotton yields, 

Thy mountain streams that gleam with gold, 

Thy prairies green where corn is seen 

Thy rock-bound shores with headlands bold. 

With swelling pride, we watch the tide 

The Mississippi rolls along ; 
With joy we view the lakes of blue 

Where merchant sails in beauty throng. 

We chant in song, our numbers strong 

Our wealth and great prosperity. 
And well we may, such glorious day 

No other land may hope to see. 

'Tis well to praise, in tuneful lays 
Our patriot sires from o'er the main 

Who laid in toil, 'mid war's turmoil 
Foundations deep for Freedom's fane. 

Those noble names which now are fame's 
Who freed our land from servitude 

Who fought and won with Washington 
Shall ever claim our gratitude. 



Long live in rhyme their deeds sublime; 

High let their names emblazoned be, 
While men revere with love sincere 

The cherished name of liberty. 

But dearer yet, can we forget 

Our soldier comrades, true and tried 

Who bravely fell, while battling well, 
And for our sacred Union died ? 

When traitor hands in sunny lands 
Against our cherished Union rose 

They rushed to arms, mid war's alarms 
And struggled with our country's foes. 

With honor blest, they sank to rest 
That Freedom's holy fane might stand 

That truth and right o'er wrong and might 
Should noble victory command. 

Then flowers bring in blooming Spring 
And weave them into garlands tair ; 

We'll gently spread them o'er our dead. 
Bright emblems of our loving care. 

These fading flowers, the birth of showers 
Eenew each year of coming time, 

Till loyal fires each heart inspires 
To patriotic deeds sublime. 



WIT BETTER THAN STRENGTH. 



The sun was in the azure sky ; 

The morning breeze was on the wing ; 

The crystal streamlet bubbled by ; 

The fields were sweet with blooms of Spring ; 

And all the landscape fair and bright 

Lay smiling in the glad sunlight. 

The air was filled with humming bees 
Wide searching through the flow'ry fields ; 
The birds were singing in the trees, 
And where the scented clover yields 
Its fragrance to the passing breeze 
Fed happy flocks in thoughtless ease. 

I wandered far in musing mood 
Through meadows green and valleys fair 
Neath clinging vines and darksome wood, 
O'er rocky hills and fallows bare, 
Then sat me down where waters play 
In silver chimes the livelong day. 

The tinkling, chirping, bubbling sounds 
Of bells and birds and cascades near 
White foaming through their rocky bounds 
Entrancing ev'ry listning ear 
Cast o'er my mind a magic spell 
And led me where enchanters dwell. 



90 



Where birds of song and birds of prey 
From lowland plains and mountains bold, 
And birds from ocean's briny spray, 
From torrid lands and regions cold, 
Were gathered round on airy wing 
To choose the feathered tribes a king. 

The bird that might with pinion bold 
The highest blue of heav'n aspire, 
And bathe his wings in sunlight's gold. 
Exceeding all and mounting higher 
Should be with worthy honors blest 
The chosen king of all the rest. 

I saw them spread their wings in flight 

And whirl through heaven's cloudless blue 

With eager cries of wild delight. 

But o'er them all the eagle flew 

And downward looked with haughty glow 

Upon the failing wings below. 

On, on, and higher still he whirled 
Unconscious of the wren he bore 
Perched on his back with pinions furled, 
And when at last his flight was o'er 
And down he stooped from lofty skies, 
The wren shot high and won the prize. 

And then I heard the thrushes sing: 
"The wren is small, the wren is fair, 
The wren hath but a tiny wing 
Yet he hath wit and wisdom rare. 
Loud let his worthy praises ring 
For he shall be our loving king." 



91 



THE FIRE KING, 



Aha I a Demon ? Yes, a king. 

Out, out, on ev'ry breeze I fling 

My banner to the trembling world, 

A blazing banner high unfurled, 

A banner streaked with lightning's ire 

And crimsoned o'er with angry fire. 

Throughout the universe I reign 
And bright revolving worlds sustain. 
Around the sun my robes I fold 
In glowing dress of yellow gold ; 
The stars that blaze in boundless space 
Submissive yield to my embrace. 

My pencil tints the beauteous sky ; 
I fling the lightnings from on high ; 
I warm the breeze that floats along; 
I make the ocean currents strong ; 
The Spring strews flowers in my path 
And Winter flies my burning wrath. 

In central earth neath oceans deep ^ 

My glowing forge I ever keep j 

I touch the mountains and they smoke 

I rend the earth with earthquake stroke 

And pour my molten lavas wide 

In many a red and scorching tide, 



92 



I course through all the veins of life ; 
And aid in ev'ry deadly strife. 
The steam expands at my command 
And toils for man on sea and land ; 
I heat the forge, I turn the mill, 
I bless or curse where'er I will. 

In gentle mood with tender hand 
I cheer with warmth the household band 
Like toiling slave of servile birth 
Throughout the busy realms of earth 
To calm and peaceful work resigned 
I toil and labor for mankind. 

But when I'm roused with fierce desire 
I burst all bounds in dreadful ire 
While Euin, Death, and pale Dismay 
Like raging demons round me play 
And on the wings of smoke and flame 
Spread wide the terrors of my name. 

Where'er my chariot wheels are whirled 
With rumbling roar I stun the world. 
The cow'ring nations stand aghast 
Until my furious steeds have passed. 
While earth and sea and sky are red 
With pyres that light the mangled dead. 



GROWING OLDER. 



I'm a trav'ler, wand'ring trav'ler 
In this mystic world of motion, 

Scanning all its great mutations 
On the land and on the ocean, 

All its changes ending never 

Bringing joy or sorrow ever. 

Ever in my lonely musings 

Whisp'ring voices seem to greet me, 
Voices from the sky surrounding, 

Voices from the earth beneath me, 
From the wat'ry flood and fountain 
And the cliffs that top the mountain. 

Deep within the secret chambers, 
Chambers of my soul's indwelling. 

Temple of the inner being 
Tiny voices ever swelling. 

Seem to whisper, " Growing older, 

Slowly fading, growing older." 

I behold my friends around me. 
Note their ever changing features 

As the ceaseless years roll onward, 

Showing that we're transient creatures 

Showing that the earth is but the portal, 

Not the home of souls immortal. 



94 



I can see their wrinkles growing, 

See their beaming eyes grow dimmer, 

See their noble forme grow stooping, 
See thir fires of vigor glimmer. 

Fainter, weaker, slowly colder. 

Day by day they're growing older. 

They are passing, swiftly passing 

To the land of spirit nations ; 
One by one they cross the river, 

Gloomy verge of fair creation, 
Leaving lifeless forms to slumber 
Where the tombstones earth encumber. 

Look upon the fairest cities 
Grlowing in resplendent riches. 

Gilded domes and marble temples, 
Pillared halls and statued niches, 

Yast cathedrals dim and solemn 

Grandly built with arch and column. 

Age shall fiercely come upon them 
Crushing down and overturning. 

Leaving scarce a stone to tell you 

Where the seats of wealth and learning 

Once received the adoration 

Of some unrememb'red nation. 

Ev'ry work of man's construction. 
Aqueducts and sparkling fountains, 

Moles, restraining dashing billows, 

Tunnels through the granite mountains. 

Ever tell the olden story 

Transient is each earthly glory. 



95 



Egypt's massive sculptures whisper 
To the trav'ler wand'ring thither, 

" Growing older, crumbling, falling, 
Thus all fame at last must wither. 

Thus all beauty, strength and glory 

Soon shall be but ruins hoary." 

Neath the palm tree's grateful shadow 
Where the torrid sun is shining, 

Uxmal lifts its mould'ring towers 

Green with tangled vines entwining. 

Wasting midst the vegetation 

Into dreary desolation. 

Mighty nations rise and prosper 
Filling all the world with wonder 

At their power, fame and glory, 
Yet how soon they break asunder, 

Scatt'ring fragments as the token 

Of their grandeur, crushed and broken. 

Earth itself is growing older ; 

Eocky cliffs are downward bending. 
Worn away by wasting ages 

To the level plains descending, 
And the ocean ever beating 
Solid earth is ever eating. 

Eivers with their mighty currents, 
Melting snows in mountain gorges 

Sweeping with their torrents seaward, 
Yolcans, with their blazing forges. 

Earth remoulding and renewing 

Ever tell what Tinie is doing. 



96 



Yiew the glorious orb of morning 

Rising from its eastern bowers, 
Shedding wide its golden sunshine 

Over temples, domes and towers. 
Wide dispersing gloom and sadness 
Filling all the world with gladness. 

When the cheerful day is wasting. 
When the sunset tints are fading 

From the dappled skies of evening. 
When the darkness flings her shading 

Over land and over ocean, 

Watch the moon's majestic motion. 

Gaze upon the star-lit heaven 

Flashiog with its silv'ry gleaming, 

Mark the comet's blazing pathway 

With its light through darkness streaming, 

See the meteoric sparkling 

Bursting through the heaven darkling. 

Look on these celestial bodies ; 

Listen to the voices falling 
From their high abodes in ether 

Plainly to us ever calling, 
Read their sad and solemn story, 
Learn that all is transitory. 

Yes ! the sun, so grand and glorious, 

Ev'ry shining constellation, 
Ev'ry orb in heaven flying 

Through the depths of vast creation 
Shall bow down in mild submission 
Bound by mighty Time's decision. 



97 



Dreams there were in olden ages, 

Dreams of youth's perpetual fountain, 

Life's elixir, health restorer, 

Hid beneath some western mountain ; 

Joyful was the drinker, ever 

Blest with fadeless youth forever. 

Heroes vainly sought these waters 
Far exploring forests haunted, 

Wand'ring over pathless regions 

Full of hope, with hearts undaunted ; 

They but found a spot for dying 

Lonely graves neath forests sighing. 

Yet the fount of youth unfading 

Is not all a mere delusion, 
Mocking all our aspirations, 

Mingling hopes in strange confusion, 
For, in heaven ever glowing 
You may find the fountain flowing. 

He who drinks those crystal waters 
From the throne of God proceeding, 

Tastes the golden fruits of heaven 
Ev'ry hungry spirit feeding, 

Safe from age, in climes supernal 

Shall be blest with life eternal. 

Time may roll unending cycles, 
Wing his flight forever soaring 

Blot out shining spheres from being, 
Back to Chaos worlds restoring, 

But he dares not heaven's portal 

Sacred home of souls immortal. 



98 



THE STILL SMALL VOICE. 



Elijah stood upon the mount of God. 

Above his head, the heavens blue and calm 

No sign of storm or boist'rous wind displayed. 

Far eastward, o'er the hills, the morning sun 

Majestic rose, and all the world around. 

With gladsome smiling, welcomed his ascent. 

Around were rugged rocks and threat'ning crags 

Bright gleaming in the golden light of day, 

While far below, the trackless wilderness 

With many an ancient grove of verdant trees 

Beneath the shadow of the mountain, slept 

In quiet solitude, a dreamless sleep. 

With outstretched arms and eyes that anxious seemeJ 

To pierce the airy veil that round him hung, 

To heaven's king the kneeling prophet prayed ; 

" Lord, God of Hosts ! most jealous have I been 

For thee ; for Israel, with wicked hands, 

Forsaking all thy covenants, have thrown 

Thy altars down, and, with the sword, slain 

Thy prophets. I, e'en I alone, remain 

And now, through all the land, my life they seek." 

Eijah rose and stood before the Lord 

And for his coming waited silently. 

A mighty wind arose and smote in wrath 

The mountain's crest; it clave the rocks in twain 



And rent the strongest cedars, but the Lord 

Came not in howling storm. An earthquake shook 

The rock built mountains, but the Lord was not 

In earthquake shock ; then red'ning all the sky 

Came fire and Horeb blazed with lightning's glare. 

The Lord came not in fire's consuming flame. 

He came at last ; a still small voice it was, 

And then the prophet knew the Lord had come, 

And bowing down his veiled face, received 

In meek humility his gentle words. 

Long years have passed. No prophet stands to-day 

Before the Lord on Horeb's holy mount 

But now, as then, the still small voice is heard. 

The Lord comes not in wild tumultuous din, 

Nor takes the stony heart by fierce assault, 

But softens and subdues by influence sweet 

And leads by love divine the willing soul. 

In hours of joy it speaks of gratitude ; 

In grief and sorrow, consolation gives ; 

On hearts despairing sheds the light of hope 

And leads the wand'ring pilgrim home to God. 



100 



JOHN'S LETTER. 



Within my happy home terrene, 
The summer of my life serene, 
Dear John ! beloved friend of yore ! 
Tho' far removed from mortal eyes, 
Tho' dwelling in celestial skies 
To thee I fain would write once more. 

Beneath some cheerful shady wood 

I often sit in musing mood 

And think of thee, so long unseen, 

While futile questions come and go 

Like rippling waves that gently flow 

Where brooklets lave their margins green. 

Where are you now, I ask once more, 
Dost haunt some fair enchanted shore. 
Some mystic haven far away ? 
Dost e'er revisit earthly climes 
Once sacred held in olden times, 
Or dost thou sleep in cold decay ? 

Knowest thou aught what lives we lead. 
Of thoughts we cherish in our creed, 
Of hopes that beckon on with smiles. 
Of toil and care that clogs the soul, 
Of griefs that on our bosoms roll 
Like surges over sea born isles ? 



101 



Wben death's grim shadow o'er thee fell 
And Daught its darkness could dispel, 
And faith and hope and love were vain, 
Say, wast thou conscious how we grieved, 
And how our heavy hearts bereaved 
Were anguished long with bitter pain ? 

And since the sad and weary day 
When we entombed thy mortal clay, 
Obedient to the will of fate. 
Hast thou e'er grieved and suffered pain, 
Or hast thou found that death was gain 
The birth of an elysian state ? 

Hast thou on heavenly pinions borne 

Far toward the golden gates of morn 

Searched out the mysteries of life, 

Or farther still with bolder sweep 

Explored wide the starry deep 

And sought new worlds of strange delight ? 

Hast thou yet learned what life may be 
Or what is fate and destiny ? 
Why Sin and Evil had a birth, 
Why Sorrow with despondent air 
Should curse mankind with black despair 
And Death should sway the realms of earth ? 

Please come to me on angel wing 
And answer to this letter bring 
That I may know thy present state, 
For oh ! how deeply yearns my soul 
For one sweet word from heaven's goal 
To shadow forth our future state. 



102 



Within that strange mysterious clime 
Where blazing suns n'er mount sublime 
Nor radiant beam with sunny day, 
Within that world, so dark, unknown, 
Whose gates are kept by death alone 
For but a single glance I pray. 

Come, lift the veil I now implore 
And let me look beyond the shore 
That hides thee in its silent gloom 
And see with eyes supremely blest 
Some glimpses of that heavenly rest 
Ere grim despair my hopes consume. 

And now farewell ! no more I'll write 
While doubts bedim my feeble sight. 
Though I should never greet thee more, 
Nor know what destinies are thine 
While earthly claims our thoughts confine, 
Yet, time may all our joys restore. 



HEAVEN'S WELCOHE. 



How strangely now, dear John, we meet 
And with increased aifection greet 
Each other on this mystic shore, 
This spirit land unknown and strange 
Where we with tireless limbs may range 
And Death may never part us i^ore. 



103 



'Tis twenty years ago, long years, 
Dear John, since we with many tears 
Kesigned thee sadly to thy God ; 
Folded thy hands in sweet repose 
Weary no more with earthly woes 
And laid thee neath the verdant sod. 

The twigs we planted o'er thy tomb 
Now stately trees in radiant bloom 
Cast fragrant showers o'er the ground 
While midst the boughs that o'er it bend 
The birds and bees their music blend 
With many a sweet harmonious sound. 

I need not tell how many more 
Our loved and cherished friends of yore 
Now rest within that hallowed ground ; 
Their souls entranced in blissful rest 
Have gained these regions of the blest 
And greeted thee with joy profound. 

'Tis joy indeed to meet thee now, 
To see the light upon thy brow 
That tells of heav'n's ecstatic climes, 
To see once more thy loving face. 
And clasp thy form in sweet embrace, 
And talk with thee of olden times. 

As thoughtful still as when on earth 
You meet me at my new life's birth 
When first in heav'n I ope my eyes. 
You guide my wand'ring steps aright. 
You lead me into purer light 
And feast my eyes with glad surprise. 



104 



And now I loDg to hear you tell 

How disembodied spirits dwell 

Within this sweet unfading clime. 

Do aspirations still inspire ? 

Do souls in heaven e'er desire 

To walk progressions heights sublime? 

And more, I fain would hear, dear friend, 
How far these shining realms extend 
Beyond my vision's utmost bound, 
What spirits roam these happy plains, 
What fadeless joys this heav'n contains, 
And where God's dwelling place is found. 

Shall we with angel eyes behold 

Our Father's throne more bright than gold 

Or ever see his form divine? 

Shall we but gaze upon him here 

In glorious works that we revere, 

The wondrous proofs of his design ? 

Ah, yes ! though we may never gaze 

Upon the infinite of days 

Or all his mighty realms explore; 

Tho' we may never comprehend 

How far eternities extend 

Yet we may learn forever more. 

Where dwell those spirits ftiir 1 pray 
Whom once I knew in forms of clay, 
The loved and lost of days gone by ? 
For heaven's bright and glorious dome 
Can never be a perfect home 
Without their loving presence nigh. 



105 

'Tis well ! You say they all are here 
Awaiting me with words of cbeer 
Keady to welcome me on high ; 
E'en now the bliss of paradise 
Falls o'er my form in golden guise 
And sunlight gleams from heaven's sky. 

Yes, yes ! now o'er those crystal tow'rs 
O'ertopping all these heav'nly bow'rs 
Once more their radiant forms I see ; 
With outstretched hands and joyous eyes 
Illumined by empyrean skies 
They're bending now to welcome me. 

O Death ! how long I feared thy pow'r 
And strove to shun the dreaded hour 
When I should feel thy heavy hand, 
But now in heaven's light I see 
How true a friend thou wast to me 
And bless thee for thy fatal brand. 

Farewell, oh earth ! beloved sphere 
Sweet home of all my heart held dear 
When youthful hopes inspired my soul ; 
Farewell to all thy rich domains 
To all thy joys and all thy pains 
I've reached at last a heav'nly goal. 

Hail, hail ! supernal glorious rest 
O bright abode ! supremely blest. 
My joyous home forever more. 
O forms of fair angelic mould 
Me, in thy loving arms enfold 
A welcome sweet, to heaven's shore. 



THE DEATH OF BALDER. 



In Asgard's bright and glorious land 
Wlnere Odin rules with mighty hand, 
Unwelcome came the goddess Grief. 
With haggard brow and woeful face 
She sought the god's assembly place 
And stood before Valhal's great chief. 

" O Goddess ! never seen before 
Upon fair Gladsheim's golden shore, 
Bright home of all the noble slain. 
Why thus intrude in Odin's hall 
Or let thy gloomy shadow fall 
Within the Asa's glad domain ? " 

" 'Tis Balder's doom I come to tell. 

For Balder, gapes the gates of Hel, 

Harsh grating on their hinges wide; 

For Balder fair, and pure, and white. 

The radiant god of summer light. 

Must down through nine dark regions glide. 

Fair Balder out of Gladsheim hurled 
Must ride through Helheim's gloomy world 
And grope through many a darksome vale, 
Must cross the Slid's envenomed wave. 
Pass by the Hel-hound's gnipacave 
And hear the howling monster wail. 



107 

For well I know that Balder'8 sleep 
Is filled with dreams that terror heap 
Upon his pure and god-like soul. 
These grievous dreams his fate foreshow 
And shadow forth the future woe 
That soon o'er Ida's plain shall roll. 

High mounting Heimdal's bridge of flame 
From Midgard's lower realm I came 
To sing in rhymes the fate's decree 
But since my painful task is done, 
I'll leave awhile great Odin's son 
And visit Ean beneath the sea." 

Then anxious, all the gods divine 

Who dwellings have in Asaheim 

And all the goddesses likewise 

For Balder's sake a council held 

That threatened woes might be dispelled, 

From Gladheim's ever sunny skies. 

Then good it seemed to all the gods 
To send throughout the world's abodes 
Beseeching ev'ry being known, 
All things that in creation dwell. 
From Muspelheim to realms of Hel 
To bring no grief to Odin's throne. 

All species then assurance gave, 
The cloud, the storm, the briny wave. 
Earths, and rocks, and metals bright, 
All things that in the waters play. 
That dwell on earth, in realms of day 
Or grope in regions dark as night. 



108 

Then all their vows and pledges giv'n, 
To injure not the light of heav'n 
And darkness bring o'er all the earth, 
Fair Frigg received and bore away 
To Gladsheim's realms of glorious day 
To cheer the gods of Asa birth. 

Then up rose Odin fearing still 
Some cause o'erlooked forboding ill, 
And full on Sleipner's back he laid 
His golden saddle risted o'er 
With mystic runes of god-like lore 
And downward rode to Helheim's shade. 

A dog he met from Helheim's shore 

Begrimed and stained with crimson gore 

Upon his breast and cruel jaws ; 

At Odin, lord of magic song, 

He gaped and barked with bowlings long 

Or tore the earth with iron claws. 

Still onward dauntless Odin rode 

Till gained was Hel's malign abode ; 

His course he stayed, the east gate reached, 

For well he knew that neath a mound 

The vala's grave could here be found, 

Where long in death her bones had bleached 

Then looking north with deep intent 
Before the vala's grave he bent 
And chanted loud a magic song ; 
With runes and spells and potent charms 
He soon aroused from Death's cold arms 
The vala with prophetic tongue. 



109 



THE VALA. 

Who Cometh now so great and strong 
My rest to vex with mystic song ? 
The snow hath decked my lowly bed, 
The cruel rains have beaten me, 
The dews have moistened silently ; 
Uncounted years have I been dead. 

VEGTAM. 

Vegtam is now the name I bear 
And Yaltam's noble blood I share. 
From earth I came, on thee to call. 
For whom are golden couches spread, 
Why precious rings their brilliance shed 
O'er benches bright in Helheim's hall ? 

THE VALA. 

For Balder doomed to Helheim's shade 
The well brewed mead is ready made 
And with a shield is covered o'er. 
Prophetic words will I declare ; 
The race of gods shall soon despair ; 
Now silent let me speak no more. 

VEGTAM. 

Nay Vala, be not silent yet 

Lest it may cause you deep regret 

And fill your soul with sad unrest. 

Whose hand shall strike the grievous blow 

Wide dark'ning all the world with woe 

And Balder send to shades unblest ? 



110 



THE VALA. 

Blind Hoder, god of rayless night, 
His shining brother clad in light 
Shall hither hurl to Hel's domain. 
By strong compulsion have I spok'n 
Now let the magic spell be brok'n, 
That I may sleep in peace again. 

VEGTAM. 

For silence on this gloomy shore 
O Yala, plead with me no more ; 
My stay is short in Niffelheim ; 
One question yet; I must know all ; 
Who will avenge fair Balder's fall 
And Hoder punish for his crime ? 

THE VALA. 

In winter's halls of icy glare 
To Odin, Eind a son shall bear 
Who, ere his age shall count one day, 
Who, ere he wash, or comb, shall rise 
And Hoder hurl from darkened skies 
Now let me silent sleep, 1 pray. 

Then back to heaven Odin rode 
To seek Yalhal's divine abode 
And mingle with the Asas bright. 
To none advice he gave or sought 
Nor ever told what he had brought 
From Helheim's gloomy realms of night. 



Ill 



The Asas in their sun-gilt home 
Where Yalhal gleams with silver dome 
Disturbed by Balder's dreams no more 
Since ev'ry creature vows had giv'n 
To injure not the light of heav'n 
Kept festal games on Asgard's shore. 

When jealous Loke, the god of fire, 
Beheld pure Balder and his sire 
Eejoicing in the light of heav'n 
Dispensing gladness ev'rywhere 
With tender love and thoughtful care 
His breast with burning ire was riv'n. 

In womanly disguise arrayed 
The Fensal palace he assayed 
And there the fatal secret learned ; 
The mistletoe of feeble growth 
Unfettered by the sacred oath 
For Balder's life was not concerned. 

Eejecting all disguise he sought 
The mistletoe with mischief fraught 
Then from the shrub a branch he bore. 
Eeturning through the Asa lands, 
The deadly fragment in his hands, 
He gained Yalhal's effulgent door. 

Believing now that Balder's light 
Would ever bless the Asa's sight 
Upon his scathless form, a shining mark 
They hurled their arras in god-like sport 
Nor ever fear the gods resort 
Can lose its glory or grow dark. 



112 



Loke found the gods in bright array 
Engaging thus in harmless fray 
While sightless Hoder stood aside. 
Thus Loke : "O Hoder, god of night ! 
Why standest thou withdrawn from light 
Nor weapon hurl at Odin's pride?" 

HODER. 

I cannot see the shining mark 
Since all the world to me is dark 
And gloom o'ercasts my burdened mind ; 
I hear the spacious courts around 
With arms and joyous sports resound 
But not for me, for I am blind. 



Here take this harmless parasite 
While I direct thy arm aright 
And Balder honor by a blow ; 
Though dim and sightless are thine eyes 
Thou canst this Asa world surprise 
And thus thy mighty power show. 

Against the dazzling god of day 
Blind Hoder hurled the deadly spray 
And smote him with a fatal blow ; 
Predestined to the realms of Hel 
Bereft of life fair Balder fell 
And left the world in speechless woe. 



113 

With horror stricken eyes amazed, 
With unexpected sorrow dazed, 
The gods beheld fair Balder fall. 
No power divine, however great 
Could Balder save from destined fate 
Or back from Death his soul recall. 

Far southward shorn of golden beams, 
Where red the angry fire-world gleams, 
The sun went down mid lurid skies, 
While from the realms of Angerbode 
The cloud enveloped storm fiends rode 
And filled the world with tears and sighs. 

Thus Balder's death in ancient time 
Eecorded in poetic rhyme, 
Speaks sadly of the dying year. 
The sun forsakes the northern skies. 
The sullen clouds of winter rise 
And darkly sweep in wild career. 

A cry is heard, a sound breaks forth 
Through all the regions of the north 
Kesounding far through realms of night : 
All life in sea and earth and sky 
With plaintive voice and weeping eye 
Is heard to pray for blessed light. 



114 



RELICS. 



Come John I and look my relics o'er 
The fragments of the life that's gone, 

Mementoes cherished more and more 
As swift the wheels of time roll on, 

And let us live past hours again 

Tho' some were fraught with grief and pain. 

Within this trunk so black and old 

You scarce would give it storage room, 

I've hoarded treasures rich as gold 
And fragrant with the sweet perfume 

Of many a glorious halcyon day 

That beamed athwart my youthful way. 

Here is a worn-out pocket-book, 

My father's present long ago ; 
My notes and coin it gladly took 

And served me honestly, I know, 
So now it rests with honors rife 
Keminder of my boyhood life. 

These letters, too, now soiled and old 
And faded by the breath of time, 

Within their written pages hold 

Sweet memories and thoughts sublime 

That stir the heart and fire the brain 

With youthful love and hope again. 



115. 



This misbive is a valentine 

Penned by some gentle hand, perchance, 
To touch my heart v/ith fire divine 

And fill my soul with love's romance, 
And tho' unknown the author's name, 
These lines I've saved from wasting flame. 

A motto, John ! a heart and hand ; 

Around it cling sweet memories 
Of one who dwells in Beulah-land ; 

Upon her grave neath willow trees 
The rains have shed their crystal tears 
And flowers bloomed for many years. 

A silver lock of hair is here 
Reminder of a loved one gone 

Whose memory is ever dear ; 

Whose life like summer morning's dawn 

Bright shining o'er th' awak'ning earth, 

Filled many a heart with joy and mirth. 

Behold ! I pray, this golden star 

Upon a ground of azure hue, 
I brought it from the fields of war 

Where it had beamed o'er ranks of blue 
Till torn away by bursting shell 
Down from its silken field it fell. 

This crimson sash I used to wear 
When bugle sounded dress parade ; 

This sword, too, its honors share 
For sure it was a trusty blade; 

Companion near, by night, by day 

Wherever duty led the way. 



116 



This photo of a manly form, 

My comrade in a fierce campaign, 

Fell by my side in battle's storm 

While death was raging o'er the plain 

And gave his strong and hopeful life 

A victim to Kebellion's strife. 

Another here who sank to rest 

Not hurled to death by shot or shell 

But weak and faint, with want oppressed 
Died in a Southern prison hell 

Where loving hands might n'er compose 

His pallid form in death's repose. 

And here is one with eyes of blue 
That ever shone with joyous light 

Whose heart was warm, whose love was true, 
Whose beauty made the world more bright. 

But never more with sweet refrain 

Shall her dear voice be heard again. 

These shadow forms no voice may bring, 
No hand with loving clasp extend 

Yet still they come on mem'ry's wing 
As silent as the dews descend, 

And backward lead us thro' the years 

Now fled with all their joys and tears. 



117 



GAMBRINUS. 



Pluto sat among his minions 
Shaking from his bat-like pinions 
Sulph'rous odors clinging there, 
Then he hung his head in sadness, 
Showing signs of burning madness 
As he groaned in deep despair. 

Soon erect he stood, and higher 
Than the flames of hell aspire 
Up he raised his mighty hand, 
Waved away the billows burning 
Eed tides from his palace turning 
Then addressed his chosen band. 

" Hark, ye servants of the Devil, 
Chosen ministers of evil ! 
Faithful have ye ever been 
In my labors truly aiding 
Earth forever boldly raiding 
Teaching men to live in sin. 

Sorrow now has fallen round us. 
Dark despair hath stronger bound us, 
Sharper gnaws each stinging pain ; 
Hades, known in olden story, 
Now is losing ancient glory, 
Labors for it seem in vain. 



118 

Fewer, fewer souls are falling 
Hither drawn by Hades calling 
Urging them to choose our land; 
Much I fear we're losing power 
Day by day and hour by hour 
On the sunlight's glowing strand. 

On the highway strait and narrow 
Cheered by hope and free from sorrow, 
Pilgrims throng toward heaven bright. 
While our road so broad and pleasant 
Well prepared for king or peasant 
Almost vacant pains my sight. 

Many gins and snares I've planted, 
Sylvan groves with spirits haunted, 
Temples built to Yenus fair, 
Bachanalian altars founded. 
Trumps of fame and glory sounded. 
Tempting men our realms to share. 

Now, companions of my choosing, 
Speak! what plan will stop our losing 
And our wonted power gain ? 
Joy to us consists in doing, 
Leading men to hopeless ruin. 
Crowning them with endless pain." 

Each one then of Pluto's minions 
Volunteered his fell opinions 
How to fill the realms below, 
How to drag to Hell's dark regions 
Human souls in countless legions 
Doomed to all consuming woe. 



119 



Avarice, Murder, Lust, and Anger, 
Rose with haste and noisy clangor ; 
Alcohol and Nicotine 
Lifted up their loathsome features ; 
War and other hateful creatures 
Crowding round their king were seen. 

Many plans were then invented 
And with cunning speech presented 
To the crafty King of Hell ; 
In proposing what was needed 
Appetite alone succeeded 
In a plan that promised well, 

Pluto heard his plan with gladness 
Caring naught for all the sadness 
It would bring upon the world. 
Out from Hades swiftly flying 
Came to where the Rhine was sighing 
Then his dusky pinions furled. 

Soon a son he sired, Gambrinus, 
Who became as fond of wine as 
Bachus, born of race divine. 
By his cunning father nourished 
Young Gambrinus grandly flourished 
In his castle on the Rhine. 

'Twas a cold and bleak October 
When the fields were sad and sober 
Mid the valleys of the Rhine; 
All the vintage had been wasted 
By the summer frosts that tasted 
Of the yet unripened wine. 



120 



When Gambrimis saw the ruin 
Caused by Frost's untimely wooing 
Urged by sateless appetite, 
Craving e'er and n'er contented^ 
He the foamy beer invented 
Brewed from barley clean and white. 

Knowing not his baneful dower 

Was the gift of Pluto's power 

Only planned for human woes, 

Soon the people gathered round him 

And with honors, King they crowned him, 

King of Heaven's untiring foes. 

Then his image, crowned and burnished 
With a foaming goblet furnished 
Emblem of his godless reign, 
Could be seen in public highways. 
Gardens, groves, and secret byways, 
Where his worship cursed the plain. 

Then did sorrow, crime, and anguish, 
Many a noble spirit vanquish. 
Many a happy home destroy ; 
Love of God was growing colder, 
Evil doers, waxing bolder, 
Eeveled oft in maudlin joy. 

Now, Gambrinus rules the nations 
Thro' the power of his potations 
While his father Pluto winking 
Smiles to see unnumbered millions 
Thronging to his dark pavilions 
Downward led by love of drinking. 



121 



THE VOICES OF THE WIND. 



I hear the winds go sighing by, 

I feel their touch upon my cheek, 
I see them whirl the clouds on high 

O'er lowland plain and mountain peak. 
With dance and song they bound along 

Like smiling maidens young and fair, 
Or rush on noisy pinions strong 

Like eagles thro' the ambient air. 

They kiss the sleeping infant's lip, 

Or bear away the mourner's sigh ; 
They waft along the gallant ship. 

Or play with sands on deserts dry. 
Howe'er they come, howe'er they go. 

In boistrous mood or gentle mien, 
With angry shriek or whisper low, 

They stories tell of what they've seen. 
And oh, while sweeping round the earth, 

What scenes of love, or hopeless pain, 
Of tearful grief, or noisy mirth, 

The winds have seen on land and main. 
When over happy plains they fly. 

Or rustle thro' the fragrant trees 
They seem to sing of a brighter sky, 

Of happy hearts and careless ease. 



122 

Again, when o'er the azure deep 

They spread the rain clouds dark and dun 
Until the misty heavens weep, 

They chant a song of harvests won. 

When soughing thro' the lonely pines. 

Or sighing over dreary plains 
Where dim the sunlight shines, 

My soul in sadness then complains. 

They seem to tell of fading flow'rs, 
Of autumn's sear and falling leaves. 

And of those melancholy hours 

When dying Nature gently grieves. 

When dull and slow they murmur on 
Like dirges from some distant shore, 

I think of faces pale and wan 

Whom I shall here behold no more. 

But when they come with angry sweep 
High tossing storm clouds thro' the sky, 

They tell how sea born surges leap 

Where ship-wrecked sailors sink and die. 

'Tis then their wrathful bowlings fill 

The air with dread portentous wails, 
And stoutest hearts grow faint and chill. 

And all their boasted courage fails. 
Perchance they come to tell of mirth 

When tinkling bells and bounding sleighs 
Go skimming o'er the snow white earth 

Among the merry Christmas days. 



123 



Sometimes, on zephyr's gentle wing, 

With fragrant breath from flow'ry plains 

They sing of verdant, sunny spring. 
And echo far the thrushes' strains. 

'Tis then they speak in joyous rhyme 

Of new born life on ev'ry shore, 
And of some glorious coming time 

When death and storm shall fright no more. 



THE BROOKLET, 



Flowing soft with gentle murmur. 
Gliding thro' some shady nooklet. 
Sometimes dashing midst the boulders, 
I'm a sparkling, happy brooklet 
Blest with pure, unfailing fountains 
Nurtured midst the purple mountains. 

Winding thro' the pleasant valley. 
Full of life, and rich in beauty, 
Laughing in the golden sunshine, 
Joyful I perform my duty 
Whether summer showers thrill me 
Or congealing winters chill me. 



124 



Would you know the good I'm doing, 
Ask the flowers that bless my coming, 
Ask the birds that sing above me, 
Ask the bees around me humming, 
Ask the cattle when they seek me 
And the children when they greet me. 

Like a song that soothes the mourner, 
Like a hand that helps the weary, 
Like the light that guides the erring, 
Like the love that makes one cheery, 
So my waves with fond caressing 
Show my life is spent in blessing. 



THE ANQEL'5 SONG. 



O fleecy cloud that floats on high 
Across the arching, azure sky 
Come down to me on airy wing, 
And tell me what the angels sing I 
Sing they of happy, cloudless skies 
Found in some distant paradise 
Where spirits free from earth-born clay 
Bask in the light of endless day ? 



125 

Sing they of Truth that never dies, 
Of Beauty tinting all the skies, 
Of Patience meek, enduring long, 
And Hope that ever groweth strong ? 

Sing they of Mercy, pure, divine 
That rules in heaven with sway benign. 
Or sing they more of Justice true 
That gives to ev'ry soul his due ? 

Sing they of Pow'r omnipotent 
That never fails, whose force unspent 
Still fills unmeasured space afar 
With world on world and star on star ? 

Ah ! now I hear the word you bring 
That tells me what the angels sing : 
They sing of Love and nothing more 
For Love is king on ev'ry shore. 



THE SEARCH FOR GOD. 



His voice, methinks, I sometimes hear, 
I tremble then with love and fear ; 
His footsteps with a muffled tread 
I seem to catch with solemn dread. 



126 



'Tis then I raise my sleeping soul 
Like runner striving for the goal, 
And forth I rush to seek His face, 
Or grasp His form in love's embrace. 

With bated breath I forward bound, 
With hurried steps I spurn the ground, 
But dark and darker still the clouds 
Enwrap my soul in sable shrouds. 

I listen for His footfall's sound 

But only silence, deep, profound ; 

Then back with careful pace I go 

To searcTi through all the realms below. 

Upon the right I seek Him far 
But gloomy doubts my vision bar, 
Upon the left my search is vain, 
My heart grows sick with longing pain. 

His work I see, above, below. 
On every side, where'er I go, 
His love revealed in nature's laws. 
His wisdom in effect and cause. 

I cannot see His smiling face, 
His holy form I cannot trace, 
I cannot grasp His hand divine, 
Or lean upon His breast benign. 
And yet, I know I'm in His care, 
I feel His presence everywhere ; 
His love shall wipe each tear away. 
And fill my heart with endless day. 



127 



A NORSEHAN'S DEATH. 



Come hither round my couch, my loving friends! 

Behold me ! Am I dying? Is my soul 

So long possessor of this house of life 

About to open wide its closeless door 

And pass its threshold to return no more? 

Is it about to say the last farewell 

To ev'ry earthly thing the heart holds dear 

And seek a fairer home in Asa land ? 

Is this the end a Yiking chief should choose, 

A man who nothing feared except to sin ? 

Oh ! would that on the bloody field of death, 

Beneath the shadow of Valkyrie's wing, 

Contending bravely with heroic men 

Amidst the din of loud resounding war, 

My deathless soul had sought on wings sublime 

The beauteous dwelling place where Odin reigns. 

Think ye dear friends, my fatal hour has come ? 

Must love be anguished by our partings sad. 

And must I travel thro' that mystic gate 

That opens into worlds unknown and strange? 

Ah, yes ! Your tearful faces answer me ; 

Then bear me forth beyond these palace walls 

That I may see the glorious sun once more. 

I want to die beneath the open sky 

Where I can hear the happy robins sing. 



128 



I want to see, once more, in distance dim 

The misty clouds upon the mountain tops, 

Once more behold the forests dark and old 

That I have known since childhood's merry morn. 

Oh ! let my eyes grow dim while looking out 

Upon the world so beautiful and grand 

A symbol of its great Creator's love, 

And let the thoughts that last, with ling'ring steps, 

March thro' the portals of my dark'ning brain. 

With loving trust look up to God supreme. 



^ mmm mr wmm * 




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